Average size of Americans...

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Despite what the fashion industry thinks, the average clothing size in the United States is not a svelte 8 for women and a 40 regular for men. The average women’s size is 14, the size at which “plus-sized” clothing begins. And the average size for men is 44.

We’re bigger not only in weight and height, but also just about every measurement in between, according to the new SizeUSA survey, a first-of-its-kind look at our measurements that has been taken since World War II, reports The New York Times, which published the results. Sponsored by various clothing and textile companies, the Army, the Navy, and several universities, the survey of 10,000 people in 13 cities nationwide used a light-pulsing 3-D scanner to take 240 body measurements from tip to toe. (No fudging in this survey!)

Let’s size up some fascinating facts as reported by The New York Times:

The Ladies:

64 percent of women are pear-shaped, while 30 percent are “straight,” which means they have little perceptible waist.
Black women have larger measurements than other women, but they are most likely to have the classic hourglass shape.
Women over 36 are the most likely to have bigger hips.
Black women older than 55 have smaller hips than those ages 45 to 55.
The fashion industry assumes these standard measurements for a woman: 35-inch bust, a 27-inch waist, and 37.5-inch hip. In the real world, women ages 36 to 45 actually average:

White: 41-34-43
Black: 43-37-46
Hispanic: 42.5-36-44
Asian: 41-35-43
The Gentlemen:

Older men have trimmer thighs than younger men.
19 percent of men are considered portly.
An additional 19 percent of men have “lower front waists.” (That means they have to look under their belly to find their waist.)
Men who are over 45 are the most likely to have bellies.
The fashion industry assumes the average man is a traditional 40 regular, which means 40-inch chest, 34-inch waist, and 40-inch hip, with a 15.5-inch collar. In the real world, men ages 36 to 45 actually average:

White: 44-38-42
Black: 43-37-42
Hispanic: 44-38-42
Asian: 42-37-41

About 51 percent of men and 38 percent of women said they were “about the right weight” when asked their perception of how much they weighed. Meanwhile, 10 percent of men and 21 percent of women faced the truth and acknowledged they were “quite a bit overweight.”

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This article gives the average measurements for women in their late 30s, early 40s. What is the current average of women in their 20s?

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by MehnazQ: *
This article gives the average measurements for women in their late 30s, early 40s. What is the current average of women in their 20s?
[/QUOTE]

Hmm, I think it includes women in 20's. I think the other added statistics was a reference to those particular ages. But I could be wrong.

Taken from another article:

"Presently, the average North American woman hovers between a size 12 and 14, and in Canada, roughly 30% of women wear size 14 and over."

4

article is only halfway on the mark. It discounts the average american height as a factor.

whereas someone at 5'10" may look okay with a size 40 jacket, you simply can not expect a 6'3" or 6'4" guy to have a 40 jacket, otherwise he would be a scrawny guy.

the fashion industry has lower chest size standards, but they also look at shorter guys who look okay with that size.

5

Whatever the height, a 14 for a woman is simply unhealthy. The average American female is 5'4". And considering that over 50 percent of Americans are overweight (from other studies), its a disturbing reality.

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Marilyn Monroe was a size 14 in her prime and she looked fabulous. Anyway, I guess taller girls can get away with that size cause it doesn't really give you an overweight look. The taller you are, the better you can hide it.

I don't believe that focussing on the actual size and measurements really help when determing whether people are healthy or not. If anything, to me, this article is saying that if you wear a size 14, you are fat and need to lose weight. Height does play a huge factor cause the taller you are, the more weight you should have on your body to remain healthy. I believe for my height (5'9") the healthy weight range is something like weighing between 140-155. I believe it is very possible for women who are healthy to be size 14; healthy meaning that they eat right, exercise regularly, etc.

I think the article would have been more informing if they considered how many of these people exercised regularly, what their exercise consisted of, eating habits and height.

Then again Munni, you have already pointed out that the average height of women in America is 5'4. In that case, being a size 14 is unhealthy.