Want to get Kim’s famous booty? It’s as easy as buying a pair of Sketchers Shape-Ups … or is it?

With claims that the shoes promote weight loss, tone glutes, and correct bad posture, these dorky-looking sneaks seem like a great idea — at first. And Kim had no problem getting hot and sweaty in her Shape-Ups for a 2011 Super Bowl ad. Unfortunately, researchers and doctors say they don’t work.

In addition to the broken/twisted ankles, foot fractures, and pelvic pain these shoes have reportedly caused in some users, researchers have found that Shape-Ups are only as effective as regular running shoes — not any better. Two studies from the American Council on Exercise discovered that there is “simply no evidence to support the claims that these shoes will help wearers exercise more intensely, burn more calories, or improve muscle strength and tone.” Of course, Sketchers continues to defend the Shape-Ups — though my hunch is to trust the independent research!