Bulging Britons cause retail headache
This has led to a headache for High Street retailers who are finding it difficult to stock the right sizes.
Now the government has teamed up in a £3.5 million project with 18 retailers to define what are the new average sizes.
Project leader Professor Philip Treleaven said: "We think the survey will probably find that since 1951 the average national waist size has increased by three to four inches, and the average woman's bust size has increased by two to three inches."
Over the next few months, the body shapes of 10,000 male and female volunteers will be catalogued using 3D body scanners.
At the London College of Fashion yesterday some 90 women were baring nearly all and stepping into the machines.
Amanda Roberts (28) hoped that the survey would result in retailers adopting a standard sizing system.
She said: "I find clothes can vary by up to two to three sizes between the major clothes stores. It's just ridiculous."
- Jude Sheerin
