4 Ways to Reduce Breast Size

If you're wondering how to lose breast fat specifically, it isn't possible to shrink your breasts alone. However, full-body weight loss from lifestyle changes like diet and exercise may also help you lose breast weight.

Breasts contain glandular tissue — which makes up the lobes and ducts that produce milk — and fatty tissue that fills in the extra space, per the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). It's the fatty tissue that largely determines your breast size, and the amount of fat you carry in your breasts is different for everybody based on factors like your hormones, age and natural body weight fluctuations, according to the Mayo Clinic.

You can have healthy breasts at any size. But for some, larger breasts may put excess strain on your spine and back muscles, which can cause neck, back and shoulder pain, per the Mayo Clinic.

If shrinking your boobs is your goal, here's how to lose weight in your breasts.

Wondering how to lose boob fat specifically? While you can't target weight loss in your breasts alone, losing weight throughout your body may help.

And eating a balanced diet is a key part of any weight-loss endeavor, whether you're aiming to reduce boob fat or otherwise. Per the Mayo Clinic, your daily meals should include nutrients and foods such as:

• Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains like whole-wheat bread, barley and brown rice
• Sources of protein, including nuts, eggs, fish and lean meat like chicken
• Beneficial fats, including those found in nuts, olive oil, avocado and dairy products like yogurt
  

On the flip side, limit foods such as:

• Refined carbohydrates like white bread and breakfast cereals
  
• Foods with added sugars like baked goods, soda and condiments
• Foods with trans or saturated fats like red meat, butter and certain cheeses

It's also important to create a daily calorie deficit to help you lose weight, according to the Mayo Clinic. Reducing your intake by 500 to 1,000 calories a day will typically help you lose weight — including breast fat — at the safe and sustainable pace of about 1 to 2 pounds per week.

It's also important to exercise regularly if you're trying to lose weight and shrink your breast size naturally. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend adults do 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity (or 75 minutes of intense cardio) and at least two strength training sessions per week.

Aerobic exercise can contribute to your daily caloric deficit to help you lose weight throughout your body, including in your boobs. And that's not the only benefit of cardio — aerobics can also support heart health, brain health and better sleep for your overall wellbeing. Try cardio activities like:

• Walking
• Running
• Cycling
• Swimming
• Rowing
• Dancing
• Boxing

And while your breasts don't contain muscle themselves, weight training can strengthen the pectoral muscle that lies behind your breasts and supports them, per the MSKCC. Dabble in different types of strength training, including:

• Weight lifting
• Circuit training
• Isometric exercises

Though it won't help you lose breast weight, binding your chest may help you visually reduce the size of your breasts if you have gender dysphoria, according to the Mayo Clinic. Per the Cleveland Clinic, you can flatten your chest with the following methods:

• Wearing several sports bras
• Layering clothing
• Using kinesiology tape
• Wearing a commercial chest binder

However, binding your breasts too tightly or with non-breathable fabric may cause discomfort, pain, acne or skin infection, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Bind safely with the following tips:

• Wear a binder made of breathable material
• Keep cool to avoid letting sweat collect under your binder
• Take time off from wearing your binder, like when you sleep or when you're at home

Surgery is another way to reduce breast size if your breasts cause severe symptoms that interfere with your daily life, like pain or postural issues. If this is the case for you, talk to your doctor about a breast reduction surgery to decrease breast tissue, or other alternatives like over-the-counter pain relief or physical therapy.

A mammoplasty (the technical term for a breast reduction) removes excess fat and glandular tissue to shrink your breast size and relieve neck, shoulder or back pain, explains the American Society for Plastic Surgery.

But remember: Any surgery is invasive and carries risks, so be sure to cover any concerns in a thorough discussion with your doctor.