It’s a Woman’s World: Put your oversized handbag on a diet

If you’ve gone shopping lately, a trendy, oversized handbag may have caught your eye. These handbags, marketed by top designers and replicated by less-expensive retailers, have become increasingly popular in recent years.

And while these handbags are certainly fashionable, they can also lead to sore muscles. According to Dr. Jane Sadler, a family practice physician on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Garland, Texas, heavy purses are often the culprit when women experience chronic neck pain and headaches.

“If you think about how you carry a bag, it’s usually on one side, and you kind of pull your neck to one side and lift your shoulder. It’s a very unnatural position,” Sadler explains.

In fact, she said that most of her patients carry handbags that weigh between seven and 10 pounds, a weight that can strain both the neck and shoulder when carried for an extended period of time.

Fortunately, this pain is easily avoidable, so now is the time to do some spring cleaning on your favorite handbag. If your handbag pulls on your shoulder, it’s time to lose some of that extra weight.

First, try downsizing your wallet. Only carry cash and the credit cards that you use regularly, in addition to other vital cards, like your driver’s license. Eliminate unnecessary change in your coin purse, and your load will already begin to feel lighter.

Also, leave your makeup bag at home, and only carry those makeup products you really need. If you’re still having trouble downsizing your purse, shop for a smaller, sleeker design, which will force you to eliminate unnecessary items from your handbag.

Oversized purses can be a great accessory, but don’t endure aches and pains in the name of fashion.