Will Exercise Increase Your Breast Size?

May 26, 2011 | By Melanie Greenwood

American women seem obsessed with breast size; a quick Internet search for "increase bust size" returns thousands of hits. However, if you'd like a little more up front than you have, exercise might not be the way to go. Though aerobic exercise and strength training are vital contributors to overall health, they don't do much for your chest.

About the Human Breast

To better understand how exercise influences breast size, you need to know a little bit about breast anatomy. A woman's breast is a complex structure. Breasts are nutritive organs -- intended to feed children -- that are composed of milk ducts, lymph nodes and connective tissue. However, the majority of the human breast is composed of fat tissue.

Exercise and Breast Size

As you already know, you cannot increase fat tissue through exercise; exercise actually has the opposite effect. In fact, many women who commit to losing weight find that their breast size goes down as the number on the scale drops, according to Bernice Patterson, a weight-loss group leader in Fort Collins, Colorado. However, losing weight in your abdominal area might draw attention to your breasts, making them appear larger.

Expert Insight

Don't spend money on expensive books or DVDs that promise they can help you increase your breast size. These products don't work and are a waste of your hard-earned cash, according to Dr. Larissa Hirsch on TeensHealth.org. Hirsch also advises against buying creams, lotions or any other miracle breast-enhancement products, reminding readers that smaller breasts can sometimes be a blessing; large breasts increase your risk of back problems and sometimes draw unwanted attention.

Alternatives

If you are truly unhappy with your breast size, there are alternatives to wasting your time and money on exercise routines. Sometimes, padded bras are enough to enhance your confidence. You can also invest in bra inserts designed to enhance your cleavage. If your breast size is enough of a concern to you that it interferes with your ability to function, you might consider seeing a mental health professional. Self-esteem is worth investing in.