“The belt itself won’t help you increase your strength,” advises Moore, “however, having the support from it might give you the confidence to push for heavier lifts while knowing you are supported. It also makes you more mindful of maintaining good technique.”

Moore stresses that no gym accessory is a replacement for strengthening your body in order to help you move more weight. “Working with a personal trainer is a great way to gain an understanding of the way the body should be moving during different exercises and how they should feel,” she says.

“Train smart, be patient and put the work in first.”

Weightlifting belts: do you really need to wear one, and how do they work?