If you are active, buy these! They provide nice back support and medium compression for the seat and thighs. The waistband is soft yet stays in place. These leggings are thicker than the competition but still lightweight. I am 5'7" and was a size 4/6 when I got pregnant but felt huge so I bought a medium at first. The medium fit loose on the belly and was long in the legs, but I still enjoyed them very much. The first pair I bought got a run in them only after about a month of use (though I used them nearly every day and to workout). Customer service was fantastic. They responded within hours and arranged to ship me a new pair. I requested a size small in the replacement pair and I am glad I did. The small fits perfectly. In short, follow the sizing guidelines on their website. I bought these leggings to keep up with exercising when my belly really popped and my back started hurting. They really make a difference. I will definitely purchase more Belly Bandit products.