Earlier this week, I revealed that after nearly 15 years of wearing a bra, I finally got myself properly fitted—and found out that I have been wearing the wrong size for ages.
Turns out that I'm so not alone: According to new research, roughly 80 percent of women are sporting an insufficient over-the-shoulder boulder holder. Uh, that's a lot of us.
A report detailing the research claims that a poorly fitting bra can cause headaches, rashes, hernia, and even IBS (or, irritable bowel syndrome for those who are luckily unfamiliar with the acronym). Seriously?!
This info kinda sounded far-fetched to us, so we chatted with board-certified internist Nancy Simpkins, MD about this whole bra sitch. She put the kibosh on the IBS thing, at least for us younger ladies. (Her take is that the claim is a little exaggerated, as the muscles of the chest and abdomen protect the bowel.)
However, she says that women should definitely get fitted, as there are certainly musculoskeletal, skeletal, and postural implications for wearing the wrong bra.
"For young women, I recommend starting good habits as early as possible in order to prevent long-term effects," she says. "A poorly fitted bra can contribute to shoulder and back pain. The best way to prevent this from occurring is to invest in bras that fit well."
So, while wearing the wrong bra won't make you spontaneously do a number two, it might be worth asking a sales rep to take your measurements the next time you're out shopping to find the right size. Not only will a proper fit help your posture and stave off back pain, but it will make your boobs look even awesomer, which is always a perk. (Get it? Perk? Perkiness? Boobs?!)
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Photo: thinkstockphoto
