Average dress size of women increases to 14

The dress size of the average British woman has grown from 12 to 14 in just over a decade, researchers said yesterday.

The dress size of the average British woman has grown from 12 to 14 in just over a decade, researchers said yesterday.

Marks & Spencer last commissioned a study 12 years ago when the average bust was a B cup but the survey has found a C cup is the average today. Fattier diets, lack of exercise, and the contraceptive pill are among the reasons given.

The chain has now altered its sizes to fit the curvier proportions of modern women, and will be replacing size 12 mannequins with newer models that reflect the change.

Researchers spent a year measuring 2,500 women, and found the average woman is now 36C-28-38, is about 5ft 4in tall, and has size six feet.

David Rowlinson, who co-ordinated the survey, said: "Modern women are taller, with bigger frames, larger hips and breasts. There's nothing wrong with being a size 14, it's just the way most women are."