PA
A scientist has said that sports bras should become a standard piece of PE kit, and should be worn by girls for all games and PE lessons.
Dr Joanna Scurr from the Department of Exercise and Sports Science at the University of Portsmouth said regular bras do not provide enough support and can cause breast pain and sagging.
She has called for sports bras to be a compulsory part of PE kit in the same way mouthguards are for hockey.
Dr Scurr claims that breast pain following sports lessons is one of the reasons girls try to avoid PE. She is adamant that wearing the correct sports bra will prevent pain and reduce sagging later in life
'Many young women don't understand the implications of making the wrong choice when it comes to support,' she told the Daily Mail.
'Our research demonstrates that the correct bra reduces breast movement and associated pain and may reduce the risk of long-term sag. Giving girls the right information at an early age can improve their body image and even encourage greater take-up of sport at school. Mouthguards are a compulsory part of PE kit for children when playing hockey and rugby and I want to see sports bras for girls become the same.'
Dr Scurr's research into the effect of sport on breast health is being run in conjunction with Sweatshop, the UK's largest independent running retailer. The University of Portsmouth and Sweatshop will deliver educational workshops on breast health to five schools in the UK as a pilot scheme starting in September.
What do you think? Have you bought your daughter a sports bras for school?