title: The Influence of the Breast on Sport and Exercise Participation in School Girls in the United Kingdom.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Emerging evidence suggests that breasts may be a barrier to physical activity for adult females. With only 12% of the UK 14-year-old girls achieving exercise guidelines, to understand deterrents to exercise in this population, we should consider whether breasts may also influence sport and exercise participation in school girls. This survey-based study investigated the influence of the breast on sport and exercise participation and breast-specific concerns in the UK school girls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was developed to assess demographics, breast characteristics, breast-specific concerns in sports, breast knowledge, views on breast education, and sport participation. Chi-squared tests assessed associations between participation and breast size, sports bra use, and breast concerns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two thousand eighty-nine school girls aged 11-18 years completed the survey, for 97 their breasts had begun developing and 96% reported wearing breast support. Forty-six percent of girls reported that their breasts had some effect on their participation in compulsory sports and exercise, which was more prevalent in girls aged 13-14 years (51%) and in larger-breasted girls (63%). More than 50% reported never wearing a sports bra during sports. Breast concerns were high with 73% reporting ≥1 breast-specific concern in sports; with breast bounce being most prevalent (38%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As most of the breast concerns raised in this survey could be addressed via education and 87% of girls wanted to know more about breasts, this study demonstrates a need for breast education for school girls, which may reduce the influence of the breast on sport and exercise participation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Joanna.scurr@port.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scurr
authors.affiliation: School of Sport Health and Applied Science, St Mary's University, Twickenham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Exercise, University of Chichester, Bishop Otter Campus, Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brasher
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Risius
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marczyk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001940:Breast / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Adolescence; Bras; Females; Health; Physical activity