Breast Size

[Powers]

@sherlock100N

I have also noticed an apparent increase in breast size especially among college age women (I have been a faculty member for many years so have had an opportunity to observe this particular age group).

Maybe you’re just looking more closely? =)

@Irishman

Can I get a more detailed explanation, for a “non-breast-owner”? How are cup sizes determined? Why is a C not a C?

Whether you personally own them or not, this is useful information.

The band size is measured underneath the bust. The cup size is determined by the difference between that measurement and a measurement around the fullest part of the bust. So if one determines that one’s band size is too small, one would go up a band size and down a cup size.
Powers &8^]

[greenmonk]

One reason for the increase in breast size could be the use of steroid hormones injected into cattle to increase milk production earlier. A friend of mine went on vacation in Mexico, which has even more lax laws about this than USA or Canada, and could not help notice young teenage girls with mature full breasts. And that was a majority of them. The estrogen in the injections for cows trigger puberty in girls at younger and younger ages. There have been various studies done on this that show this happens. So by the time they reach their 20’s there is obviously a longer growth period than in previous pre-steroid injected cows time period.

[Irishman]

Powers said:

The band size is measured underneath the bust. The cup size is determined by the difference between that measurement and a measurement around the fullest part of the bust. So if one determines that one’s band size is too small, one would go up a band size and down a cup size.

I am aware of that. That doesn’t answer the specific question, what makes a “C” a “C”? Why is a C on a 34 inch chest smaller than a C on a 38 inch chest? Or to quote steviemutton from before,

A 36B is a larger breast than a 34B. It’s the same size breast as a 34C on a larger back.

How does that work?

[Chronos]

There have been various studies done on this that show this [early puberty triggered by dietary hormones] happens.

Do these studies control for level of nutrition in general? Populations that eat better will enter puberty earlier even without any added hormones.

[badbadrubberpiggy]

@KarlGrenze

Would or wouldn’t? In my case, at least, it seems I lost the fat around the chest (but not there itself). Bigger difference then between chest and under the chest… Higher bust size, lower band size. :smack: Not what I wanted.
.

It depends

I’m in the same boat as you, I lost weight, but not much in the boob area, so I ended up with a smaller band size and a bigger cup. I know some women who lose weight in their breasts before they even notice it anywhere else, though.

In the US at least, I find Wacoal to be one of the better brands for catering to “odd” sizes - they carry both small band sizes with larger cups, and large bands with smaller cups. Yeah, I say this in just about every bra/boob size thread I post too, but I love 'em!

[KarlGrenze]

@Irishman

Powers said:

I am aware of that. That doesn’t answer the specific question, what makes a “C” a “C”? Why is a C on a 34 inch chest smaller than a C on a 38 inch chest?

A 38 inch chest is bigger than a 34 inch chest (usually because there is more fat, but it can be a broader built). Proportionally, usually, if there is fat immediately below the chest, there is extra fat in the breast area (although not directly THE breasts). The “C” refers to the difference between the measurement right around the middle of the breasts vs the ribcage underneath the breast. The difference between both of them may be the same, but the amount of fat will be different. More fat (or bigger frame) equals bigger bra number. Less fat, or thinner built, lower number. As with other body parts, the more fat, the bigger it seems.

[steviemutton]

@Irishman

Powers said:

I am aware of that. That doesn’t answer the specific question, what makes a “C” a “C”? Why is a C on a 34 inch chest smaller than a C on a 38 inch chest? Or to quote steviemutton from before,

How does that work?

A C is defined as a three inch difference between the band and the full bust measurement. Think of two circles, one inside the other; the area between the circles will be larger for a larger pair of circles if the difference in circumference is the same. By the same mathematical principles, a larger band with the same difference to the full measurement will equal a larger cup volume.

In many manufacturers the the cups, and maybe even the whole front halves, of a 34C and 36B will constructed identically, and they’ll certainly use the same size of wire.

[loca_chick]

There is a huge difference between bra size and breast size. Bra sizes are not standardized (no manufacturers have standardized clothing sizes), so two bras labelled 34C by different brand names will fit very differently.
Larger bra sizes are advertised today vs in the 70s due to a recognition that there are a wide variety of breast shapes and sizes and an attempt to provide a more customized fit for the consumer.
Breasts are largely (but not entirely) fat tissue, so yes, increased body weight can and usually will mean larger breasts, but this too depends on hormones, body types, and genetics.
The desirability of small or large breasts is driven primarily by the fashion industry, not Playboy or any other like magazine. Dream all you like, men, but women desire the clothing and look being touted as fashionable over whatever a dream magazine like Playboy shows. After all, there is always somebody who will find you attractive exactly as you are.
Yes, I worked in the fashion industry as a designer, and YES, I HAVE BREASTS! :eek: I am just shy of 30 and my bra size is 42L. In high school, at my skinniest, they were 36DD.
The most acurate way to measure size may be by the handful, or, in the case of the well endowed, smaller, same size, or larger than an adult’s head.