The Viral Bra Study That Never Got Published
However, the truth behind this research is far more complicated than the viral reports suggested, and the findings were never actually confirmed through scientific publication.
What The Research Actually Involved:
Jean-Denis Rouillon, a sports science researcher at the University of Besançon in France, spent 15 years collecting measurements from women to examine how bra-wearing affected breast tissue.
His preliminary observations included measurements of young women between ages 18 and 35. Some reports claimed he studied 330 volunteers, while others stated the number was closer to 130 participants.
Among his early findings, Rouillon noted that women who did not wear bras appeared to have nipples that lifted approximately 7 millimeters per year compared to those who wore bras regularly. He suggested this might indicate that going without bras allowed natural support structures to develop more fully.
The Critical Problem With The Study:
Despite widespread media coverage, Rouillon never published his findings in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. This means no independent scientists examined his methods, data, or conclusions to verify their accuracy. In scientific research, peer review serves as a crucial quality control process that helps identify flaws and confirms whether findings are reliable.
When research remains unpublished, the scientific community cannot properly evaluate it. Without access to detailed methodology, sample characteristics, and complete data, other researchers cannot replicate the study or build upon its findings.
What The Researcher Actually Said:
Importantly, Rouillon himself cautioned against drawing sweeping conclusions from his work. He explicitly warned that it would be dangerous to advise all women to stop wearing bras because his sample was not representative of the broader population.
He acknowledged that his preliminary results needed much more research with larger and more diverse groups of women before any definitive recommendations could be made.
The researcher emphasized that he needed to recruit many more participants and conduct additional studies. His caution contrasted sharply with how the media portrayed his findings as conclusive evidence.
What Science Actually Shows:
Medical research indicates that breast sagging occurs due to multiple factors that have nothing to do with bra wearing. Age naturally affects skin elasticity and breast tissue. Pregnancy and breastfeeding change breast structure.
Weight fluctuations stretch the skin. Genetics play a significant role in breast shape and how tissue changes over time. Smoking can damage skin elasticity throughout the body.
Current scientific literature contains no solid evidence that wearing or not wearing bras directly causes or prevents sagging. The complexity of factors involved makes it difficult to isolate bra-wearing as a single variable affecting breast shape over time.
Understanding The Difference Between Headlines And Science:
This case demonstrates why preliminary research findings should be treated cautiously until they undergo proper scientific review. A single unpublished study with a small sample cannot overturn decades of medical understanding or provide reliable guidance for millions of women.
Women should base decisions about wearing bras on personal comfort, individual support needs, and lifestyle preferences rather than on viral news stories about unpublished research. Whether to wear a bra remains a personal choice without clear scientific evidence favoring either option for breast health.
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