New study pinpoints the reason adolescent girls stop playing sports

Simone Olivero
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When I was in grade school I was on every sports team. Basketball, soccer, baseball, you name it. It didn’t seem to matter whether I was fast or had any hand-eye co-ordination, it was just the thing everyone did. But around age 13, that all stopped.

According to a recent study in the Journal of Adolescent Health, I’m not the only one who called it quits once I hit puberty.

“Emerging evidence suggests that breasts may be a barrier to physical activity for adult females,” the study found.

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Looking at 2,089 girls between the ages of 11 and 18, they found that 97 per cent were experiencing breast development and of those, nearly half felt that their newly endowed chest impacted their participation in compulsory sports and exercise – this was particularly true for girls aged 13 to 14.

“The physical changes that take place during puberty are considered of great psychological significance, and studies have reported that these physical changes have an influence on body image and self-esteem,” states the study.

For any girl who experienced these physical changes at this age, these findings may not be so surprising but the study also discovered that along with the physical changes occurring at this age, there was a serious lack of education around breast-specific concerns. Namely: sports bras.

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“More than 50 per cent reported never wearing a sports bra during sports,” the study found.

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Nike Pro Fierce sports bra. (Nike.com)

“Nearly three quarters of school girls reported one or more breast concerns, with breast bounce being the most prevalent issue.”

“Most school girls reported that they wanted to know more about breasts, and most of the breast-specific concerns reported in this survey could be addressed via an educational intervention covering the benefits of appropriate breast support during sport and incorporating training on bra selection and fit. ”

What do you think about the findings of this study? Do you think increased education in breast support may encourage more young girls to continue with sports? Let us know your thoughts by tweeting to @YahooStyleCA.