40 per cent of Australian women wear a bra with a cup size DD or bigger

The Sunday Telegraph ^ | April 05, 2009 | Elle Halliwell

[llevrok]

THE bra market is expanding, literally. Up to 40 per cent of Australian women now buy bras with a cup size of DD or higher, new figures from lingerie suppliers show.

In the 1950s, the most common bra-cup size was a B - three sizes less than a DD.

Modern breasts are getting so large that some bra companies have introduced cup sizes as high as K, The Sunday Telegraph reports.

Experts blame the cleavage boost on obesity, contraceptive pills and artificial hormones.

Many lingerie labels such as Berlei and Triumph are now offering G cups while Fayreform, Freya and Le Mystere are producing select styles up to a size J.

"We're noticing a lot more girls with small backs and bigger bust sizes being fitted," she said.

Eveden's top-selling size is a 10G.

As women's chests have grown, the number of breast reductions have doubled in the past decade, said cosmetic surgeon Mark Goyen.

"There's no question that because the population is bigger their breasts are bigger as well, because it's all fatty tissue.

"As women get older the amount of fatty tissue increases, and also the proportion of fat increases."

Sydney cardiologist Ross Walker said artificial oestrogens found in foods, plastics and cosmetics had also contributed to the growth spurt.

Larger, more cumbersome breasts often discouraged women from exercising, said body-image expert Jenny O'Dea, Associate Professor at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Education and Social Work.

"One thing I find in my body-image research is that girls and women with large breasts tend to avoid sport and physical activity because it becomes a bit bothersome," she said.

[freedumb2003]

I honestly wonder if this isn’t “size marking inflation.” In the same way that size numbers have been dropping for years (size zero? Isn’t that impossible in non-Euclidean measurement?) so that a size 5 today was a 10 a few years ago, maybe they have been “inflating” (pun as desired) bra sizes for the same reason?

[Focault's Pendulum]

[mikrofon]

% Tie me kangaroos down, sport ... tie me kangaroos down %

[ichabod1]

I dunno, I gotta get abreast of the situation.

[Shyla]

You guys are just boobs.

; )

[Batman11]

Yikes! I think I knew that girl in high school, Two Ton Tina with the Ten Ton T_ts!

[Revolting cat!]

[OpeEdMunkey]

For all you small breasted gals be aware that there are still plenty of men who appreciate you—or at least this one at any rate! Feel free to send pictures.

[oblomov]

Might be...but it’s my understanding that Australia has an even greater obesity problem than the US.

[ichabod1]

Better not jump rope with those things honey, you’ll give yourself a black eye.

[Red6]

That’s it.

I’m moving to Australia!

[OpeEdMunkey]

Oh man. I can put out my own eyes but that will never erase the image from my mind.

[alicewonders]

[Man50D]

Prove it!

[rabscuttle385]

[Canedawg]

[painter]

bump!

[rabscuttle385]

"One thing I find in my body-image research is that girls and women with large breasts tend to avoid sport and physical activity because it becomes a bit bothersome," she said.

Explains a lot about a certain McPiggy.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

"One thing I find in my body-image research is that girls and women with large breasts tend to avoid sport and physical activity because it becomes a bit bothersome," she said.

Having to scoop out a hollow in the ground for your boobies before you can do push ups can be a bit of a bother.

[Drango]

LARGE cup holders....