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Fashion And Lifestyles

Don't copy those slouching celebs. Bad posture won't just cause a bad back, but depression too!

At first glance, it was hard to put a finger on it. As the succession of celebrities stepped on to the red carpet at the Golden Globes, there was no denying that most of the outfits were exquisite.

The jewels and accessories were dazzling, while the hair and make-up was perfect. Yet many of the female actresses and ­singers looked distinctly uncomfortable in front of the world’s cameras. The reason? Their posture was appalling.

Actress Michelle Williams looked round-shouldered in her putty-coloured number by Valentino, while country music star Carrie Underwood’s sunken chest did nothing for her strapless sequin dress. Even the statuesque Tilda Swinton appeared to stoop.

And it’s not only celebrities whose posture is shocking. One in five people in Britain visits their GP complaining of back pain each year — yet many of them could be cured by learning to stand and sit properly.

It’s not only spinal problems either. Researchers at North State Dakota ­University have found a link between poor posture and depression, and many experts believe stooping and slouching could be associated with weight gain, heartburn, migraines, anxiety and ­respiratory conditions.

So, what is good posture and how can we achieve it?

‘By drawing back the shoulders we c­reate enough space within the body for the ­connective tissues inside to align ­themselves correctly,’ says body ­alignment expert Chris James.

‘Imagine hanging a piece of string above you when you’re in a seated position — it should pass directly through the head, midway between the shoulder blades and through the centre of the pelvis to the floor.