Franklin , 45005

There are no real pros of using a lifting belt unless you are a powerlifter and in that case should be used only in your heaviest of lifts during squats or deadlifts. The belt acts just like its name adding increased bracing support to the entire core musculature. It aids all the "ab" muscles as well as the low back musculature. This makes the body more rigid and able to handle a larger external load.

The downside of this is that repeated use of this tool will lead to decreased use and tension in the very muscles that you are intending to support increasing risk of hernia, disc herniation, "throwing your back out", etc. Most people also use the belt for exercises it is not necessary for; curls, bench, overhead pressing, etc.

The longterm use of a belt is a bad idea. Look back when Walmart had all of their employees wear a back support at work (similar to a lifting belt). No one was getting hurt at work anymore, they were all getting hurt at home when they had no belt on because their core had become so weak!