"Average clothes size 16"? Is it though?

[MrsWP]

Inspired by a comment saying the above on another thread.

It's something I've heard a lot.

But is it really true?

I say that because I'm a 16 and always feel fatter than anyone else in the majority of situations.

Broadly speaking looking around at my friends, colleagues and women at the school gates etc I'd say its a fair assessment.

I remember my PE teacher telling us this about 15 years ago!

It could be true and it depends o. Your height. If your 5ft 8 and a size 16 I reckon you could pull it off. Where as if your only 5ft 2 you would look over weight by far.

@May17th good point. I'm short.

I'm a size 20 so far fatter than you but I know what you re saying. Yes, I know know people that are 16 and over but I know more people that are a size 14 or less. Some older family members might be a 16 or so not all and not even half. Those that are overweight are like me and have thyroid issues. Most of my friends are no more than a 10/12.

What's a 16?

Are you a 16 according to the 1980s, according to M&S, according to Gap, according to New Look, according to Asos, according to Superdry...

a size 16 is the same as a size 18, 30 years ago and possibly a size 20

as people have increased in girth, clothing manufactures don't want to lose business so have increased the cloth and kept the label the same.

a size 16 was average about 30 years ago

No I don’t think so. I don’t think any of my friends are anything close to a 16. I would say most of the women I know are 10 - 12 with a few much smaller and very few any bigger

I would say it sounds about right.

Just because it's the average doesn't mean it should be acceptable though.

I don’t think so either. Maybe 10-12 based on friends.

Clothes size also depends on the shop, no consistency really.

The focus should really be on a healthy bmi and diet and from an early age.

here is how sizes have changed in US and its no different in uk

Sounds about right for my age group (50s).

I'm a 16. Have slowly gone up over the last 10 years. Same has happened to my friends.

It probably is the average size. Because most people are overweight, not because it’s a normal size.

In my friendship group we are mainly 8-12, on the school yard I'd say most fall in 10-14. They're really the only women I personally see atm.

I think that's probably right. I am a 16 and I am very overweight but I am likely around the middle size if you lined up all adult women. Unfortunately a lot of people are very fat which makes us size 16s feel normal even though we are still overweight.

I often see people quote their dress size on TV etc and they look much bigger than I would say they are

vanity sizing plays a HUGE part and also the vast quantity of leisure wear and Lycra means you might be able to get a size 14 physically on your body but doesn't mean you're a size 14!!!

Most women put on weight as they get older so if your frame of reference is all women who are 30-40 then I would generalise that they will be smaller than 'average' perhaps?

@merryhouse

What's a 16?

Are you a 16 according to the 1980s, according to M&S, according to Gap, according to New Look, according to Asos, according to Superdry...

This always comes up on MN. People claiming to be a size 8 in one shop and a 14 in another. Honestly I can understand sizing up in places like Zara for jeans but even then I could not imagine buying a 16! I say that as someone who is bottom heavy too.

I don’t know. Lots of very, very slim mums at the school gate with the odd larger one or two. At work we’re a complete mixed bag size wise.

I’m a 12. I’ve been a 14 and a 16. I was a 12 30 years ago and I’ve a couple of items still from then that I still wear, so am never convinced about the vanity sizing thing. I also have a pair of size 12 trousers from the 70s that fit perfectly too.

I think it depends on the ages, heights, interests, occupations and marital status of you and your friends. If you and all your friends are are all petite/average height 18-40 year olds (pre-marriage or newly single, pre-children, pre-menopause, pre health issues) or are all marathon runners, fitness fanatics, permanently on a diet or lucky enough to be naturally slim then a size 10 and 12 maybe the norm.
But overall if your friends say work in an office, are very much taller than average height, are happily married, are aged 40-70, have health issues then yes on average with some being a naturally slim size 8 and some being a size 20 then a size 16 is probably the average.

It was a equivalent of a size 20 years ago when I was a 70’s teenager so not considered average then. We have increased in size , our rib cages, waists etc are bigger therefore the “ average” has got bigger.
I was a standard 1970’s size 14 which was bust 36, waist 26
I’m slightly bigger now but wear size 12.
The size tens of the 70’s were like children’s clothes, bust 32 and waist 22, and no Lycra to allow any give.
I would feel above average now at size 16 but only because I’m only 5’2”, one of my adult daughters is 5’9” and size 16 but looks slimmer than me.

I've always assumed this is for women of all ages. It doesn't feel plausible for young-to-middling age women. But also, size inflation. A size 16 when my grandma was young is like a size 10 today, depending where you buy your clothes.

I also don't think distribution is even. I read a book by a doctor who said (paraphrased) the slim are still pretty slim, but the fat are getting fatter. If I think of women I know, the majority are size 8/10/12 ish, with the rest being bigger but quite different sizes to each other. So perhaps 16 would be a mean average, but not the most common size.

I tend to wear size 14-16 tops & I'm not fat at all (I guess you have to believe me).

16 for trousers seems about average to me, all ages.

My swimming pool leisure sessions, the average is probably closer to 18 for trousers.

@ragged are you tall though?

I wear a size 12 in new look, 14 in H&M, 10 in Gap, 8 in Next, Hush & French connection..... I'm a 12. I tried some size 16 skinny jeans on from H&M recently and couldn't get them past my knees. There's a problem out there.

I'm a 16. I'm 5'8 and I lift weights. I used to shot-put for my county and have the thighs to prove it.

I'm fairly solid and I'm healthy, and the fact I wear a size 16 doesn't matter.