Guess what? We grew. Who knew?
The study was funded by clothing manufacturers, the military and colleges
and universities, all of whom have a keen interest in body sizes.
Size 8 has long been thought to represent the measurements of the average
American woman. In the clothing industry, a size 8 officially is supposed
to be a 35-inch bust, a 27-inch waist, and 37 1/2-inch hip.
But in the survey, white women ages 18 to 25 came in, on average, at
38-32-41, with white women ages 36 to 45 coming in at 41-34-43.
Average black women were a little larger, according to the survey, at
40-33-43 for ages 18 to 25 and 43-37-46 for ages 36 to 45. Hispanic women
shaped in at 39-33-41 for ages 18 to 25 and 43-36-44 for ages 36-45
Because of its size and breadth, the survey also will allow a closer
look at the typical body size of different minority groups, including
blacks, Hispanics and Asians.
"Minority populations were not well represented in previous studies,
which included no Hispanics or Asians," Lovejoy said.
