Why do women have such big waists now?

[TiredOctopus]

Even the really skinny ones have wide looking waists and look quite boxy.

[opal712004]

thats the same as asking why do men have big heads

[beenee]

Maybe they just seem bigger now as women used to squeeze themselves into boned corsets in the olden days.

[boognish76]

It's probably not that waists are wider but that 'waistlines' on clothing have dropped. Most trousers, jeans, etc seem to sit lower down the hips where the body is, of course, wider.

[Robinia]

I totally agree with you TiredO...worst offender I reckon was Gina, barmaid on Corrie, who wore very low slung jeans but from the back had no shape whatsoever. Sorry girls but if you're going to wear dropped waist, make sure you've got a waist to drop from!

[dustybin]

Waist sizes have definately increased and not in proportion to the rest of the body. I thought it had something to do with too much carbohydrate in the diet. I guess waist sizes have expanded along with the snack industry.

[Greedyfly]

People change - EVOLUTION. We are taller, bigger built, fatter etc... and I am sure I read somewhere that the national average size for a uk women was 14. Plus clotheing styles have changed rather dramically over the years.... By any chance are you a guy TiredO?

[TiredOctopus]

No, I am a woman, and you sound like an uptight one! I am simply very disapointed by my own waist size which has increased out of proprtion with my body. I have noticed it in other women over the last 2 decades- despite fashion changes. Evolution doesn't make any significant changes in a matter of only years, Greedfly.

[smudge]

I wouldn't have said Greedfly sounded uptight, I thought you were male too, sorry! Anyway, everyone's make up is different for all sorts of reasons. I have always been very slim, but have never had what I would call an 'hour glass figure'. I used to wear hipsters & looking back at photo's, they did make my waist look wider than it was when wearing 'normal' waisted trousers, etc. I just wear what makes me 'feel' comfortable & slimmer if poss!

[Millimole]

I'm not sure when your 'golden age' of narrow waists was - but for us over 45 ;) it was when women tended to wear girdles as normal, everyday wear. This gave women a discernable shape, unlike todays big-waisted women!