Washington D.C: In a global study, scientists have found an important public health implication which suggests that the majority of women are unhappy with the size of their breasts. The Breast Size Satisfaction Survey (BSSS), led by Professor Viren Swami of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), brought together over 100 international experts to conduct surveys with 18,541 women in 40 countries, making it the largest cross-cultural study to examine body image ever undertaken. The study was published in the journal Body Image.

The researches discovered that 48 percent of women who participated wanted larger breasts than they currently have, 23 percent of women wanted smaller breasts, and only 29 percent of women were satisfied with the size of their breasts. The average (mean) age of the women taking part in the study was 34. Women who were dissatisfied with their breast size admitted they were less likely to practice breast self-examination and were less confident about detecting changes with their breasts, which are important self-care practices for the early detection of breast cancer.