Doctors at Boston’s Children’s Hospital found that teenage girls with asymmetric uneven or large breasts had poorer mental health and lwoer self-esteem than their pears. The size and perkiness of their breast affected their diet and social interactions.

The study analyzed 59 young women from 12 to 21 years of age that had breasts that differed by at least one bra cup size. 40% had tuberous breast deformity that meant that their breasts weren’t developing normally.

This is the first study linking breast size and mental health. Dr. Brian Labow who carried out the research argued that medical beneficial at a young age could be helpful to minimize the negative mental health impacts.

Dr. Labow noted that although there is insurance coverage for surgery that corrects asymmetry in breast cancer survivors due to the impact that their breasts have on mental health, there is no provision for young women whose self-image is altered by their breast shape and size.

The research was published in the journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.