Bras, brasseires,
over-the-shoulder boulder holders — whatever you call them, they have been a
socially accepted clothing standard for the greater part of 100 years. Yet one
man believes these garments which are seen as a necessary evil are more evil
than necessary.
Professor Jean-Denis Rouillon is a sports medicine specialist from
France who believes bras are doing more harm than good to women’s breasts. In
fact, Rouillon believes breasts would be healthier and stronger if they never
come in contact with a bra at all. Many women feel the need to wear the
undergarment to fight the effects of sagging, but according to Rouillon’s
extensive research, forgoing the bra will actually help breasts stand up against
sagging naturally.
“Our first results confirm the hypothesis that the bra is a false
need,” said Rouillon in an interview with FranceInfo explaining his study. “Medically, physiologically,
anatomically, the breast does not benefit from being deprived of gravity.
Instead, it languishes with a bra.”
The French sports
medicine specialist has spent the last 15 years armed with a caliper and ruler,
regularly taking measurements of 330 volunteers between the ages of 18 and 35.
Though it’s slow going, Rouillon observed that women who did not wear a bra saw
their breasts lift by as much as 7 millimeters (0.275 inches) each year. The
braless women also reported firmer breasts, disappearing stretch marks and
reduced back pain. According to Rouillon, women gain no anatomical, medical, or
physiological benefit from having their weight supported by a bra.
The French researcher
also said wearing a bra can prohibit the growth of supportive tissues under the
breast. If a woman wears a bra every day throughout her youth, these tissues
could begin to degrade, thereby causing the breasts to sag. When women skip the
bra, these tissues and muscles are given a chance to become stronger as
evidenced in the lift observed.
Professor Rouillon isn’t
suggesting a bra-fueled bonfire, however. His research has found that ditching
the bra is best for younger women who haven’t spent much time in the underwear.
Older women who have been wearing a bra for many years won’t see any benefit by
giving up now.
“It would be dangerous to advise all women to stop wearing their
soutien-gorge as the women involved were not a representative sample of the
population,” said Rouille in an interview with Connexion, an English-language French newspaper.
Yet one 28-year old
volunteer who has been working with Rouillon throughout this study says she’s
been experiencing multiple health benefits by losing the bra.
According to the woman
referred to only as “Capucine,” going braless has helped her stand more
upright, relieved her back pain and has even helped her breathe more easily.
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