Ditch The Bra: Study Calls Them A "False Necessity" That Contributes To Sagging

Bras aren't doing wearers any good; in fact, they're counterproductive when it comes to keeping breasts lifted and firm.

This is the conclusion Jean-Denis Rouillon of Besancon University has come to after 15 years spent studying the anatomy of 330 women.

"Medically, physiologically, anatomically - breasts gain no benefit from being denied gravity," he said, according to The Telegraph.

In all, using a slide rule and a caliper the researcher determined a 7mm difference in height among those who didn't wear a bra versus those who did.

Rouillon hypothesizes that the reason lies in the breasts becoming "dependent" on them, leaving the supporting muscles under-used, which in turn may be causing them to degrade more quickly. 

One woman involved in the study carried out at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in Besancon said that putting aside her bra even eased her back pain.

Despite this, Rouillon does not encourage women who have relied on bras for years to cast them aside altogether, given that the study only examined women under the age of 35.

The study is controversial not only because bras are so universally worn (not to mention the major industries that rely on that trend staying put),but for the belief that it inspires better posture and may even contribute to healthier circulation through the breasts.

However, at least one study done by British researchers on post-menopausal women found that those who wear a bra are more likely to suffer from breast pain.

According to The New York Times, the announcement has been met with a sense of amusement in French media, including a remark from a columnist who said the only thing he couldn't believe was that the study took so long and was only considered "preliminary."