Large breasts at 20 linked to diabetes in middle age

Published on Wednesday 30 January 2008 20:57

WOMEN who wear a large bra size are much more likely to develop diabetes than those with an A cup, according to a study.

Experts believe noting a woman's breast size at 20 may help predict whether she will have diabetes in middle age.

Women with a C or D cup were more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than those with an A cup.

Type 2 is often linked to obesity and lack of exercise, but even after adjusting for this, researchers found the risk high.

They asked more than 90,000 women, aged on average 38, about their bra sizes when they were aged 20.

They then looked to see how many of the women went on to develop diabetes.

Women who wore B cups at the age of 20 were 37 per cent more likely to have diabetes than those wearing A cups.

For those who wore a C cup at 20, the risk was up by 80 per cent, dropping to 64 per cent for those wearing a D cup.

The research was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.