Shape Up are the toning shoes made by Skechers that made a number of health claims and they ended up getting them in a whole lot of legal trouble.
Shape-ups sneakers were a type of footwear that gained popularity in the late 2000s and early 2010s. They were introduced by the brand Skechers and marketed as toning shoes that claimed to help wearers improve their posture, strengthen muscles, and promote weight loss by creating an unstable walking surface. The key feature of Shape-ups was a thick, curved sole design that purportedly engaged more muscles and increased activation during walking.
However, the claims made by Skechers and other companies producing similar toning shoes faced scrutiny and legal challenges. In 2012, Skechers settled a lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the United States. The FTC alleged that Skechers had made false and unsubstantiated claims regarding the health and fitness benefits of Shape-ups. As a result of the settlement, Skechers agreed to pay a significant sum of money to consumers who had purchased the shoes.
After the settlement, the popularity of toning shoes, including Shape-ups, declined. Skechers and other brands gradually phased out their toning shoe lines as consumer interest waned and the marketing claims were called into question. While the specific Shape-ups model is no longer widely available, Skechers continues to produce a range of athletic and lifestyle footwear.