Women Are 'Put Off Sport Because Of Breasts' (But It Has Nothing To Do With Bra Size)
Women 'Put Off Sport By Breasts' (But It Has Nothing To Do With Bra Size)
PA/The Huffington Post UK
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Many women are deterred from taking part in sport or exercise, because they can't find the right sports bra or are too embarrassed by "excessive breast movement" (translation: jiggly boobs).
The issue affects nearly one in five women, but, perhaps surprisingly, levels of physical activity are not influenced by breast size, which suggests the issue affects a wide range of women.
The survey, which was conducted by the University of Portsmouth's Research Group in Breast Health, found that breasts were ranked fourth as a barrier to exercise after lack of energy, time constraints and health reasons.
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Breasts were ranked above other barriers including cost of exercise, access to facilities, not having the right clothing, not having any company while exercising, and feeling embarrassed about doing sport.
The research - published online in the Journal Of Physical Activity And Health - found that 17% of the 239 women surveyed were discouraged from participating in physical activity because of their breasts.
Researcher Emma Burnett said: "This latest research is crucial because it shows that breasts are an important factor to consider when investigating what deters women from exercising. One third of women in the study were not meeting physical activity guidelines, but improving breast health awareness may help to encourage participation for these women.
"We had plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that breasts are a barrier to exercise but this is the first study to provide evidence that they're affecting women's participation in sport.
"I expected the findings to show that breasts are a barrier but I was quite surprised at the percentage - it was higher than I thought."
Miss Burnett said she hoped the research will help educate women about breast health awareness and encourage them to get active. She would also like manufacturers to take note that some women struggle to find the right sports bra.
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10 Common Gym Mistakes to Avoid
1. Cardio Crazy(01 of10)
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Jumping straight on the cross trainer and running like Mo Farah in a bid to burn away those calories and avoiding weights for fear of ‘bulking out’ is one of the most common mistakes to make.Endless cardio routines will burn muscle and could push your metabolism into a worse state than it started. Hitting the weights, will keep a stimulus on your muscles and keep your metabolism up at the same time. (credit:Martin Barraud via Getty Images)
2. Repeating your routine(02 of10)
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You know what you’re good at, so you stick to it. But despite thinking you’re not a natural runner or your arms are too weak for bicep curls, doing the same routine for too long will lead to a plateau and you will stop seeing results.If your gains have stopped, don’t be afraid to switch your routine. Just because you like something doesn’t mean it is the best thing to do in order for you to hit your goals. Ask for advice from gym staff, you’ll be surprised by the different number of exercises you can do for different muscle groups. For instance if you want abs like Nicole Scherzinger but hate crunches, the plank position will be just as effective. (credit:Blend Images - JGI/Jamie Grill via Getty Images)
3. Calorie Counting(03 of10)
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Don’t use cardio machines to count the calories you burn as the only factor of how hard you work. Everyone burns calories at a different rate depending on many different factors. A machine will not be able to tell you your exact expenditure - use them as a guide not as gospel.
4. Giving up too early(04 of10)
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So many people expect changes in a week, but consistency will be key in your goals. It won’t happen overnight but it will happen, if you are consistent and work hard giving your body the right amount of time. Depending on how often you train and the intensity of your programme it can take between four and eight weeks to see visible results. If you haven’t got that long, look into high intensity interval training (HIIT.) These workouts are not for the faint hearted but they aim to boost metabolism and melt away fat much quicker than a regular workout. (credit:Hybrid Images via Getty Images)
5. Eating what you want after your workout(05 of10)
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You deserve it, right? Wrong! Your appetite may increase but consume the correct foods and your body will thank you for it. If muscle tone is your goal you’ll need to add more protein into each meal. Protein shakes are not just for body builders and your muscles need refuelling after a workout in the correct way. Diet versions such as Performance Diet Whey V2 is low in fat, low in sugar and carbohydrates and packed with protein to quench appetite and reduce hunger. (credit:Comstock via Getty Images)
6. Lifting too heavy(06 of10)
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It’s tempting to lift the heaviest weight you can or run as far as possible as soon as you get to the gym but this will lead to muscle fatigue and can also make you burn out so you’re less tempted to return. Learn the good form in all your exercises so you understand how the muscles are supposed to work when they are being contracted under the tension of the weights you are lifting. (credit:Colin Hawkins via Getty Images)
7. The crunch factor(07 of10)
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Blasting out 300 crunches to try and achieve a washboard stomach can lead to imbalances between abdominals and lower back and ultimately injury. Take a look at the classes on offer that will show you many new exercises you may not have even considered before. Ask your instructor for tips on how to get the most from each exercise – they’ll be happy to help you! Not only that, but one of the biggest things stopping people from achieving the perfect ‘6 pack’ is their actual body fat levels, it is really true when they say that abs are made in the kitchen. Good nutrition is key in revealing those abs. (credit:Jim Cummins via Getty Images)
8. Copying others(08 of10)
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Learning by copying others in the gym is not the way to go. I’m not saying the person you’re emulating doesn’t know what they’re doing but from experience, a lot of people know what works for them and if you copy them it doesn’t always relate to gains your end. Learn what works for you, the individual. No one is the same. (credit:Echo via Getty Images)
8. Working on empty(09 of10)
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Too many gym goers fuel their workout with just water and expect to lose weight and tone up faster. But if you're doing your workouts on empty, you won't optimise your performance and can derail the progress you are making in your exercise plan. Ensure you take in a healthy and balanced diet including more greens, fruits and vegetables, or adding lean proteins to your diet. Sports nutrition supplements can complement your workout, depending on the result you want to achieve. (credit:Drazen Vukelic via Getty Images)
10. Pain equals gain(10 of10)
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Don’t use soreness as a guidance to whether you had a good workout or not. Just because you haven’t experienced DOMS (delayed onset of muscle soreness) doesn’t instantly mean that your workouts are bad. It could be a major indicator that your body is recovering well and that your nutrition is spot on. (credit:Gary Burchell via Getty Images)
The survey of women from Portsmouth, Southampton and the surrounding areas of Hampshire found that those who know more about breast health are more likely to participate in physical activity and more likely to wear a sports bra. Those with lower awareness were not as active.
She said: "Women who aren't aware of the benefits of wearing a sports bra when exercising are those who exercise in the wrong kind of bra and then experience pain. This pain means they stop exercising, which is a shame because if they knew the difference a good sports bra can make, I'm confident they would have a more positive experience of taking part in physical activity."
We asked our Facebook fans for their thoughts on the issue, and many agreed that a good sports bra was key to exercise.
"I do multiple forms of exercise and have and e cup," said Jess Enisto. "I've never had an issue as long as I've got proper support."
Clemma Tagg added: "I don't go jogging for that reason. Not because I'm bothered what other people think but after years of trying I still haven't found a support bra that works. It makes jogging very uncomfortable so I cycle instead."
Shelley Nightingale said: "A good fitting sports bra & crop top over if necessary will make even the larger chested ladies comfortable & supported!"
Professor Joanna Scurr, who leads the Research Group in Breast Health, said that if women do not wear the right sports bra, they risk damaging the fragile Cooper's ligaments which, once damaged, are irreparable.
Prof Scurr said: "When the breasts are not supported appropriately and there is tension on the ligaments and skin of the breast, it can result in strain and over time this may lead to a stretching of the breasts' natural support, which could lead to permanent breast damage."