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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.
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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.
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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.
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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."
Read more from AOL Shopping: Plus Size Lingerie, 6 Things Women Over 40 Shouldn't Wear, Discount Ugg Boots, Fashion for Men Over 40
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Glad to hear that I am average. Just like age
size is just a number
What's really sad is that according to a CBS 60 Minute show, they clothing makers have been making clothes larger for a decade or so as the customers got fatter, but to sooth there ego's, they labeled them down from the sizes we've all known. So a 14 average now, is probably closer to a 18 or larger which is fat girl territory. The term "bigger" is a misnomer, we're getting fatter, not bigger, there's a big difference! IF your body fat percentage is in the healthy range, and your a size 14 to whatever, then you are a BIGGER person. IF your percentage is in the overweight/obese category, then your FAT, and the sooner you acknowledge it to yourself, the sooner you can get healthy! As the epidemic of type 2 diabetes and other weight related illness's skyrocket, people refuse to except the truth, so they delude themselves by saying, " I'm a big gal/guy" when what they need to come to grip with is there FAT!!
I don't think there is any reason to push your narrow-minded agenda that people should just label themselves "fat". That is exactly the type of defeatist mentality in any area that keeps people from succeeding at reaching a goal or even starting a regimen to lose weight and feel better about themselves. Also, there are people like myself with metabolic disorders who struggle with every ounce I lose, so you may want to think before you speak and consider that there are always other factors besides the ignorant response.