For Superfad, a new Stuff podcast, Katie Kenny squeezed herself into a waist trainer. With some pretty mixed results.

Even before I put it on, the waist trainer caused me quite a bit of discomfort. To his credit, my editor didn't hesitate to approve my sex store purchase on the company credit card. But then I made the mistake of having the Peaches and Cream parcel delivered to my work address.

Perhaps foolishly, I had offered to try out the waist trainer for the first Superfad podcast episode. (My colleague and podcast partner, Laura Walters, didn't protest.)

I was sceptical but secretly hopeful that wearing the waist trainer would bring about painless, fast-tracked weight loss. As soon as I wrapped it around my middle, however, I realised nothing about this experiment would be painless.

Waist trainers are essentially modern-day corsets. But while traditional corsets - which were reinforced with whalebone or metal - could displace internal organs, sometimes causing symptoms such as heartburn, gas, and - long-term - stomach ulcers and esophagitis, waist trainers are less restrictive.

The garments have been heavily promoted by the Kardashian clan on social media; Khloe Kardashian, in particular, is known for posting photos of herself working out while wearing a waist trainer. But other celebrities have also jumped on the bandwagon - Jessica Alba reportedly wore two waist trainers day and night for months after having her daughters.

So while there are plenty of sponsored posts on Instagram endorsing waist trainers - surprise, surprise - there's not a lot of scientific evidence supporting their claims. After checking with my doctor to make sure I wouldn't be putting myself in harm's way, I decided to wear the waist trainer at work for five days.

ALEX LIU/STUFF For visual purposes only, Katie had her Superfad podcast partner, Laura Walters, buckle her into the waist trainer.

DAY ONE

Some waist trainers have zips, but this one fastened with a triple row of clasps (very similar to a normal bra strap). Eventually, I found it most efficient to fasten the top clips, then the bottom ones, then work my way into the middle.

I put it on during the afternoon, but after just a couple of hours I had to remove it. It was simply too distracting. I couldn't keep my mind on my work while feeling like a piece of meat stuffed inside sausage casing.

Instead of feeling my stomach go in and out with each breath, my shoulders were rising and falling.

Mid-evening, I remembered, with a jolt, that I had actually been diagnosed with a sliding hiatus hernia years earlier. Not wanting to pop anything out of place, I thought I'd take the waist trainer off until I once again had the all-clear from the doctor to continue.

DAY TWO

Unfortunately, I got the medical all-clear, and subsequently got back into the waist trainer (but on a looser fitting). Today's work day was more stationary, at my desk, so perhaps that helped me forget about the piece of material pinching around my belly.

I got through a full nine-hour day, even wearing the waist trainer during my walk to and from the office. But as soon as I closed the front door of my house behind me, I ripped the garment off and lay supine on the couch, breathing deeply.

ALEX LIU/STUFF As part of Superfad's 'method podcasting' mantra, Katie Kenny, left, donned a waist trainer for a week.

DAY THREE

At this point, I began to consider whether there might be some substance to the weight loss argument spouted by waist trainer advocates. I did seem to be eating less while wearing it, mainly because wearing it made me feel so self-conscious about my body.

In saying that, though, as soon as I got home and took it off, I stuffed my face with food to make up for the day's deprivation.

DAY FOUR

On Thursday, I attempted to walk-run while wearing the waist trainer. I've read that's what the Kardashians do while wearing theirs, and if there's anything I've learnt from waist trainer fans, it's that the ultimate goal is to be a Kardashian.

Unsurprisingly, it wasn't a good workout, both performance-wise and comfort-wise. The added tight, synthetic layer of clothing also made me extra sweaty. (Sorry, Laura, I know you'll be wearing this after me.)

DAY FIVE

Finally, I felt like I was getting used to the thing.

You know how some people start looking forward to a post-work wine from 4pm? Well, this was kind of like that. About an hour before I headed home, I would start fantasising about the pleasure I would experience immediately after unclasping the waist trainer. That physical relief of redistributed flab, those first few deep, diaphragmatic breaths, then being able to eat until my belly swelled.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Did I lose weight? Well, no, I don't think I did. Did I at least look better, say, more shapely, while wearing the waist trainer? No, no one commented on that, and I didn't notice a difference in my own figure.

If you haven't guessed already, I don't think I'll be donning a waist trainer again anytime soon. However, the experience of wearing it made me think about whether these sorts of trends from bygone eras represent social regression, or progression. Was I a sheep conforming to oppressive gender expectations, or was I Madonna in her pink satin corset designed by Jean Paul Gaultier? I suspect more like the former.

But this week has also made me wonder if I'm even in a position to judge those who do choose to wear a waist trainer, given that I'm often spotted wearing high heels, which are just as painful and unnecessary. If some women want to wear a waist trainer to cinch their middle for an evening out, so what?

We live in a time when people are obsessed with self-transforming regimes, cosmetic procedures, and diets. But we also live in a time when women should be able to wear what they want, with confidence. Even if that means wearing an uncomfortable, large bandage around your middle for absolutely no benefit at all.

Superfad is a seven-part podcast series, brought to you by Skoda. A new episode is released every Friday on iTunes and Stitcher. Join the Superfad group on Facebook and look out for behind-the-scenes extras in a weekly Facebook Live discussion every Monday.