A French scientist who spent 16 years studying hundreds of women’s boobs has come to the conclusion that bras are useless.
Jean-Denis Rouillon unveiled his surprising findings this week to a French university radio station having carefully analysed the breasts of more than 300 women, aged 18 to 35, since 1997.
He argues that wearing a bra weakens the natural muscles that hold up breasts and suggested that women may feel more liberated going bra-less.
His findings have been the cause of heated debate across the other side of the English Channel in a country known for its love of lingerie.
‘You breathe better, you stand up straighter, you have less back pain,’ one 28-year-old participant told the national news station this week.
He claims there is little benefit to wearing a bra from an early age and said going without could improve firmness.
‘The suspension system of the breasts degenerates,’ he said.
Despite his research spanning more than 16 years, the sports doctor claims his tests are only preliminary and that further investigation could be needed.
However, he did admit a bra could be beneficial for the older lady.
‘A middle-aged women, overweight, with 2.4 children? I’m not at all sure she’d benefit from abandoning bras,’ he said.