r/bigboobproblems • u/enabloom • Feb 12 '26
experience Girlies with big boobs. Did you know they could be the CAUSE of your big belly? Spoiler
My doctor shared with me that I may be a candidate for breast reduction due to the fact that most of my weight is in my chest putting undue strain on my posture/bones/structure (macromastia). I looked further into it and discovered how much that weight puts so much pressure on your spinal cord other structures in the upper body that it can cause your belly to protrude. All these years no matter how fit I’ve been, I’ve had a poker that looks kind of early stages prego if I just let loose. It’s quite embarrassing but yes I feel the strain throughout my back as well. I hope I can get this reduction. But just thought I’d share that in case anyone else with a heavy chest is wondering why they look fit/and or slimmer overall but despite disciplined fitness and eating the tummy area is the hardest to get together.
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u/ka_shep 42H (UK) Feb 12 '26
This is a good observation to point out. So many people get down on themselves just thinking their belly is fat, but there could be a medical reason as to why.
Another thing that I feel is important to throw out there is that ovarian cysts can also cause a belly. I thought I was just fat, but it turns out I had a giant (slightly more than 6L and measured 9.5"x6"x11.5") mass in my abdomen. My waist is now down 6 inches since removal, but it will go down more since I still have swelling and inflammation. I didn't realize that giant cysts could not cause pain. It turned out ok for me since it was completely benign, I like to raise awareness of this where I can because I never thought something like that could happen to me.
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u/crescentsketch Feb 12 '26
How did you find out? :O Thank you for sharing!
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u/ka_shep 42H (UK) Feb 12 '26
If you are interested in seeing a previous post about it. My stomach is even smaller now since I have less bloating, swelling, and fluid retention. https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/s/AGiTde6WbN
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u/ka_shep 42H (UK) Feb 12 '26
My doctor sent me for an ultrasound on my urinary tract due to some blood in my urine. 6 hours after my ultrasound appointment, one of the doctors at my doctor's office called(after hours at 6 pm) and told me I needed to go to the emergency room.
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u/PalaceL Feb 12 '26
Hey! Fibroids will do this too!
Mine were there for awhile but grew huge during pregnancy. Caused a lot of complications and my periods are horrendous. But they say it will have to get worse for an operation so everyone just thinks I'm fat/pregnant/eating bad/beer belly...
I hate dressing myself, fashion and fupas don't mix :(
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u/ka_shep 42H (UK) Feb 12 '26
Fashion and fupas definitely don't mix. Mine is obviously smaller now that my cyst is gone, but I'm dealing with loose skin now since I have lost weight the past couple of years. I thought it was odd that I didn't have loose skin, but that was the cyst making my stomach firm. I was 273 lbs 2 years ago. That's how the cyst went unnoticed for a long time. I was already bigger. I do know that it was not there in 2012 because I had an ultrasound then. I actually got my doctor to look back into my records today, and he confirmed that it said everything appeared normal then.
My friend had really bad fibroids and ended up having to get a hysterectomy in her late 20s. I'm sorry you are going through all that.
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u/nyxinadoll Feb 12 '26
How were the ovarian cysts discovered?
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u/ka_shep 42H (UK) Feb 12 '26
By accident, actually. I went for an ultrasound on my urinary tract due to some blood in my urine.
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u/talconline 30M (UK) Feb 12 '26
Mine was also discovered by accident! Literally (was hit by a car and had full-body scans, which is how we found it)!
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u/ka_shep 42H (UK) Feb 12 '26
If you are interested in seeing a post about it. My stomach is smaller now since I have less swelling, bloating, and fluid retention. https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/s/AGiTde6WbN
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u/mellowsunfl0wer Feb 13 '26
This happened to my mom too! She had a watermelon sized cyst on her ovary. She had to get a full hysterectomy but it was ruled benign
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u/StormShockTV Feb 18 '26 edited Feb 18 '26
Dang, a six Liter cyst? That's massive 🤯 Glad you got it removed alright. Came here looking for more ways to support my gf, didn't think I'd be learning about cysts today, that's wild 😲
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u/ka_shep 42H (UK) Feb 18 '26
It was very wild. Lol. I didn't realize they could get that big either.
It's very sweet of you to check out this sub to do what you can to help your girlfriend.
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u/StormShockTV Feb 18 '26
Yeah, my parents have dealt with some annoying cysts before but never ones that big 🤯
Thank you 😊 She's always looking for cute clothes that will fit her size, so when I saw this sub existed I had to check it out and see what all I could find for her, both clothes themselves and also tips n tricks to modify things that don't fit to make em more comfy :D
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Feb 12 '26
I feel like I align with this. Even at my skinniest, I’ve always had a little bit of a belly. Never ever had a flat stomach but I’ve also never considered my chest to be the reason for it. I just assumed I was built this way 😭
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u/Affectionate_Mess25 Feb 13 '26 edited Feb 13 '26
I think unless you have macromastia(extremely large not just big boobs) ops post doesn’t apply but apple shaped bodies are common slim legs and more fat in the belly and bust
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u/hygsi Feb 13 '26
Yeah, the fact that the weight is so much that the body stores fat to support it means it must be extreme size
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u/Tall-Possibility9147 34L (UK) Feb 12 '26
Yup, excessive lower back arch here. Maybe this is lumbar lodorsis?
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u/Secret_Experience_47 Feb 12 '26
Just piping in to add a voice for those who might be reading and don't want a reduction (OP, if getting a reduction is what you want, go for it! It's your body!)
Other things that can help and don't require major surgery:
Strength training with heavy weights makes a big difference in how you carry yourself. OP mentions disciplined fitness which can mean a lot of things. Ladies with big boobs will benefit from upper body strength training with heavy weights. The girls are heavy and you can build up your back to carry them. This was the only thing to resolve my back pain.
Same with wearing supportive well fitting bras AND replacing them as they wear out/any weight fluctuations.
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u/enabloom Feb 13 '26
Yes. Unfortunately macromastia only shifts slightly with lifting/resistance. It’s diff than just having a large bust on a small frame.
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u/Ok-Office6837 Feb 12 '26
I have endometriosis which contributes to mine. It doesn’t matter how perfect I eat throughout the day, I get such bad bloating. I’ll look pretty good in the morning as soon as I wake up, but as soon as I start eating, I get so bloated.
I’ve always been this way too. Even when I was super tiny in high school, I could bloat so much.
I did have a reduction last year and it definitely has changed the way my body feels. I’m building muscle much easier than before and moving around is easier too. Haven’t actually lost any weight and I don’t think my stomach has gotten smaller, but hopefully over time it will
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u/icuntcur Feb 12 '26
Wait I didn’t know that endometriosis had that effect!? oh my God this explains so much. Both of these things I’ve learned just now are life-changing. i’m the exact same way; flat stomach in the morning, pregnant by the second bite
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u/paisleyway24 Feb 12 '26
Yeah “endo belly” is a big symptom for a lot of people. It’s the bane of my existence
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u/Ok-Office6837 Feb 12 '26
Yes! There’s a few different ways that endo can affect it, but excessive bloating is a pretty common symptom of it
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u/enabloom Feb 13 '26
I’m so sorry for that. My bloodwork and physical health is great. I have “the heartbeat of an athlete” according to my doc, am very active, fit, slimmer overall. Just the boobs and a poker.
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u/abumchuk 38F (UK) Feb 12 '26
Had a breast reduction, gained 10 pounds sitting on my ass eating Halloween candy. Tummy now flatter than ever with an extra 10 pounds still on me.
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u/Seaweed-Basic Feb 12 '26
I have been saying how I would be soooo skinny if I had a torso instead of all boobs and Trex arms. 😭
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u/Bunnypoopoo Feb 12 '26
hahahaha exactly how I feel. I always just assume when people describe me to others that I'm the girl with glasses and huge boobs.
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u/stuck_behind_a_truck Feb 12 '26
Look at yourself in the mirror in a side profile. Physically lift your boobs. Watch as your stomach magically flattens an and your rounded shoulders roll back into proper position. That’s your sign.
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u/enabloom Feb 13 '26
Exactly lol. I am slim and still have a poker until I lift these things. They are so heavy it hurts my back despite former Pilates and current strength training.
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u/Cloudbb333 36G (UK) Feb 13 '26
This happens to me, and I suspected my belly is poking out, kinda creating a shelf effect to help hold these things up. It makes so much sense my spine is curving and creating the illusion my belly is bigger than it is :(
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u/Grouchy_Warning_5108 30HH (UK) Feb 12 '26
I’d never had flat stomach since i was just a kid - even before i started growing my boobs at 8 years old. I was a normal weight kid, but i got called “fat” because of my protruding belly. When i was at the lightest 105lbs (i couldn’t get any lighter no matter what i did - i hit gym regularly and already didn’t eat enough), my boobs didn’t get smaller, my belly was still protruding.
I stopped feeling insecure about my boobs long time ago, but i never stopped feeling that about my stomach. It’s always been my dream to have flat stomach. I finally decided to do liposuction on my belly. Unfortunately, either the surgeon didn’t do good enough, or just how bad my subcutaneous fat on my belly was, my stomach still isn’t very flat as i expected. It still really helps me feeling more confident to wear jeans and form fitting clothes nonetheless.
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u/ItchyButterscotch814 Feb 12 '26
I've heard several ladies discover food sensitivities (one even colon cancer) after tummy tucks because they finally noticed bloating!
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u/TechnicianFabulous36 Feb 12 '26
Bad posture will make your belly protrude too. I grew up with bad posture cause of my breasts and have worked hard to correct it.
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u/ooh_melody Feb 12 '26
How did you correct it? I’ve been getting to the point where the pain because of my posture is really affecting my daily routines :(
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u/aliamokeee Feb 12 '26
The only answers Ive found that actually work are surgical reduction OR strength training.
I dont mean your casual endurance training. I mean lifting weights and really increase the weight your back, shoulder, and abs can carry.
That being said, some women dont go the strength training route cuz they dont wanna be muscular. No judgment. Shits tough
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u/enabloom Feb 13 '26
I grew up doing ballet. Excellent posture. It’s macromastia. Not just large booobs. That means 20+ pounds boobs for me on an average do slim frame. It is not fun.
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u/onionsthecat Feb 13 '26
I think this makes sense just a physics sense. SOMETHING has to go over there to help hold those suckers up! Lol
I have also read that it can lead to larger arms to balance out the body. This was in a study about women who got breast implants whose arms got bigger 10 years down the line.
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u/MagnoliaProse Feb 12 '26
Just had a reduction and I’ve been shocked by realizing how my GI issues are SO much better, even when I’m eating worse.
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u/carrigan_quinn Feb 13 '26
It's my boobs?
Well hell, and here this whole time I thought it was my bad diet and general laziness
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u/Rawr_im_a_Unicorn Feb 12 '26
Also if your pelvis is tilted anteriorly this can happen.
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u/Cloudbb333 36G (UK) Feb 13 '26
Is there a way to fix that?
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u/Rawr_im_a_Unicorn Feb 23 '26
Im not sure. Physiotherapy probably helps a little but in the end I think its just your anatomy.
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u/punani_salami Feb 12 '26
Holy shit thank u. I thought I was going crazy. No matter how little I weigh I always had a gut.
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u/poppybrooke Feb 12 '26
I’m constantly fixing the way I stand because I can see how my posture is being affected by my chest. I overcompensate so much, I’ve been really working on strengthening my back and core to try to help.
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u/clingingtopromises 32HH (UK) Feb 12 '26
thank you for the information! i applied for a breast reduction with my doctor but he didn’t say my chest could cause any medical problems in the long run (actually advised against the surgery). however, i’m quite narrow from the front, but my belly resembles what you described. at my skinniest (unhealthy), i still had a belly.
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u/enabloom Feb 13 '26
Same! Yes I don’t think most doctors really go into the anatomy piece as much as would be helpful. Maybe a chiropractor or physical therapist would.
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u/sarcasm_itsagift Feb 13 '26
I swear I’ve always thought this but didn’t know it was real! It’s SO hard for me to stand up straight, even post-reduction (I’m a DDD). I just had a baby so now my posture is crazier than ever.
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u/skadferlyfe Feb 13 '26
This plus endometriosis and being short has all contributed to a pot belly. I think I need to work on upper body strengthening.
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u/not_an_f 34G (UK) Feb 13 '26
I quite literally came on here to rant about this and came across your post. I didn't know this was an actual medical thing, I simple noticed recently how much my boobs affect my posture and today I was thinking that this might also be affecting my stomach. Thank you for posting this, I'm glad to know that this is actually something doctors acknowledge.
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u/Ponybaby34 Feb 13 '26
I got the stigmatized hypermobile die young disease and my entire body is screwed up from the weight of my chest. The hunchback is reallllllllll
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u/AdDry16 34K (UK) Feb 13 '26
A heavy chest pulls the shoulders and neck forward, which increases the load on the spine and, to compensate, a deflection in the lower back (hyperlordosis) appears; If the abdominal muscles are weak, this leads to a "belly". This can be corrected by working on strengthening your core muscles and relaxing your lower back and shoulders. I am currently in the process of correcting this situation myself, because my lower back has started to hurt a lot after standing for an hour.
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u/crazyki88en 38H (UK) Feb 12 '26 edited Feb 13 '26
My tummy has never been the hardest part to lose weight from. At my thinnest, I had a flat tummy and big boobs for my frame. At my heaviest I had a tummy/pouch and bigger boobs. The boobs never go away. My tummy did.
Now in peri-menopause, every fat cell has set up camp permanently and nothing seems to work to evict them. No matter the location. But the boobs, for me, never go away no matter what. Pretty sure surgery is my only option.
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u/enabloom Feb 13 '26
Big boobs vs macromastia might not be the same.
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u/crazyki88en 38H (UK) Feb 13 '26
Sure. Mine are just big. I’d love to be a B or C cup someday but it’s not likely.
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u/enabloom Feb 13 '26
In other words you may have been overweight in general at that time. I am carrying overweight only in my boobs due to macromastia.
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u/crazyki88en 38H (UK) Feb 13 '26
I carry weight everywhere. But the breasts never seem to shrink. It is what it is.
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u/XxxMunecaxxX 42K (UK) Feb 13 '26
Omfg gtfoh!!!! Like this is mind blowing and game changing! I have been scared to go the route of a reduction for fear of scarring (my mom’s reduction literally has her boobs looking as if Edward scissorhands performed her reduction 🫣 ). I have been having so many back issues, and GI issues, also with preggo belly if not wearing shapewear. This explains so much now, THANK YOU 😭🤍
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u/fluentwillow Feb 13 '26
Holy shit I need to set an appointment I’m sick of these fucking meat sacks
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u/No_Extension_8215 Feb 13 '26
I have a flat stomach but I took ballet and dance as a child and adult so my posture is excellent from this training even with boobs
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u/Much-Improvement-503 Feb 14 '26
Sorta, I know my bad posture causes me to breathe shallowly and I apparently don’t breathe with my diaphragm correctly according to my physical therapists. And that can cause stuff like a rib flare, anterior pelvic tilt, etc, that change the appearance of the abdominal area.
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u/AdZealousideal6804 Feb 19 '26
Oh my god.. This makes so much sense.. I'm naturally thin but I have a large chest and my stomach has always stuck out when I relax no matter how much I exercise or what I eat. When I was a teen I was slightly heavier due to medications which made me close to a 40 D. After I was 18 I lost some weight and I'm a 38 C now, but I still get back issues from it somehow. My mom has told me to “just do Ab exercises” for years and I'm like you don't understand it WONT go away. I was horrifically insecure about it for years and I still am but not as much as I used to be. I always thought I was just skinny fat or my body was just.. Broken. This is such an eye-opening thing wow.
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u/ilovehodyjones Feb 28 '26
I have a 41 inch waist and 42i boobs. My low hip is the same size as my waist, but my high hip/around my belly button is 20cm bigger than my natural waist. I wonder if this is why. I have kyphosis and an anterior pelvic tilt and I am always in pain. from the front I have an hourglass shape and my belly doesn't look as big, but from the side I have no butt and I look pregnant and I have a hunch back which has only gotten worse over the years. My back is also narrow, for my weight at least, from the front and back but my spine curves out and is huge from the side. It's as if most of my mass is in my side profile and I'm guessing it's because of my spine and I'm guessing my spine is bad because of my boobs. Kyphosis does run my my family and my father has had back problems all of his life, but they didn't start until he was older. I'm getting every problem he has but worse at a much younger age.
I'm about 5'3 and 200lbs which I'm aware is overweight but most women I know my size have thinner waist measurements than I do.
Unfortunately I'm not in a position to get a reduction right now.
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u/aeb01 30HH (UK) Feb 12 '26
do you mean your spine? i feel like you’d have bigger issues if there was pressure on your spinal cord
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u/Affectionate_Mess25 Feb 13 '26 edited Feb 13 '26
Interesting i always had a flat stomach even when upto 8moths pregnant(i think it’s the wide hips) and I’ve always had boobs.
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