Breast Anthropometry Measurements of Chinese Adolescent Girls for Sports Bra Design

Breast measurement is one of the most challenging aspects of anthropometric studies. Considering the specific breast shapes and needs of adolescent girls, the purpose of this study is to investigate breast anthropometry measurements and perceptions of bra design in adolescent girls. 23 adolescent girls aged 10 to 14 were invited to participate in the survey to understand their knowledge level of bra-related issues, and 7 adolescent girls with bra sizes of 30AA to 32A were invited for wear trials. Five bra conditions were introduced, and 3D scanning, and questionnaires were conducted to obtain seven breast measurements and understand their preferences for bra design. Results showed that only 8.70% of respondents had experienced bra fitting, and less than half knew how to determine bra size, highlighting an education gap on this important topic. The upper bust measurement was significantly correlated with the level of “coolness” (r = -0.395 and p = 0.038), and the under bust measurement was correlated with the level of “comfort” (r = -0.441 and p = 0.019). This implies that fabrics with higher air permeability and water vapour transmission rate are required in the upper breast region, and a highly stretchable underband is preferred to comfortably fit the rapidly growing body during adolescence. These results highlight the need to design sports bras specifically for adolescents and provide bra designers with important information about the bra design features and dimensions required for optimal wear comfort during physical activities.