{"id":683,"date":"2025-03-07T13:42:30","date_gmt":"2025-03-07T13:42:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=683"},"modified":"2025-03-07T13:42:30","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T13:42:30","slug":"plus-size-is-the-new-average-american-women-big-and-beautiful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=683","title":{"rendered":"Plus size is the new average: American women big and beautiful"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Social media has revolutionized nearly every aspect of modern life, and according to a study, it\u2019s also had a sizable influence on the standards of beauty.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-2\"><\/div>\n<p>Historically, beauty standards for women have been narrowly defined. From Marilyn Monroe\u2019s curves in the 1950s to the waifish figures of 1990s supermodels, the ideal body type has changed with each generation. Yet, one consistent thread persisted: the expectation for women to conform to a single standard was often dictated by pop culture and advertising.<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-c721db729ddfbf0e41b67d2780768b9b\" class=\"newsner-c721db729ddfbf0e41b67d2780768b9b newsner-bluebillywig_instream\">\n<div id=\"newsner-340753769\" class=\"newsner-bluebillywig_instream\">\n<div id=\"\">\n<div id=\"bb-iawr-newsner_english_playout-1601396675571335\" class=\"bb_iawr\">\n<div id=\"bb-wr-newsner_english_playout-1601396675571335\" class=\"bb-media bb_wrapper bb-muted bb-phase-init bb-mode-video bb-pendingplay\" data-flags=\"{}\" data-softembargoremainingtime=\"0\" data-sid=\"Af9mOHZNuG6F\" data-isready=\"true\" data-autoplaynextremainingtime=\"0\">\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-context-layer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Social media, however, has diversified like never before. Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are home to creators of all sizes, shapes, and colors. This shift toward inclusivity is reshaping the way people view their own bodies and for the first time, audiences see representation beyond size 0 models in mainstream media.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-plus-is-the-new-average\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Plus is the new average<\/h2>\n<p>Interestingly, as American women are embracing body positivity and size inclusivity, research reveals they are also getting bigger than before.<\/p>\n<p>Previously, American women were told that the average size is 14 but the study suggests that \u201ccontrary to popular assumptions, the average American woman\u2019s (AAW\u2019s) clothing size is larger than anticipated.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe average American woman wears between a misses size 16 to 18, which corresponds to a women\u2019s plus size 20W,\u201d reveals the that also determined the average waist size increased from 34.9 inches to 37.5 inches over the last two decades.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe hope that this information can get out and be used by industry and consumers alike. Just knowing where the average is can help a lot of women with their self-image,\u201d one of the study\u2019s lead experts, Susan Dunn, told \u00a0\u201cAnd we hope that the apparel industry can see the numbers and know that these women aren\u2019t going away, they aren\u2019t going to disappear, and they deserve to have clothing.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-66855f30aaccfc65ffe274431b813a3f\" class=\"newsner-66855f30aaccfc65ffe274431b813a3f newsner-amp_article_inside_content\"><\/div>\n<p>She adds, \u201cThat the clothing should fit well, both in style and measurements, and be available elsewhere than back corners or solely online is still a controversial topic.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-why-are-american-women-getting-bigger\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Are American Women Getting Bigger?<\/h2>\n<p>Statistics show that the average American woman is now larger than in previous decades. According to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/data\/nhsr\/nhsr122-508.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">CDC<\/a>, the average American woman weighs about 170.6 pounds, compared to 140 pounds in the 1960s.<\/p>\n<p>Several factors contribute to this trend:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lifestyle Changes<\/strong>: Sedentary jobs, higher calorie consumption, and the availability of processed foods are major contributors.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cultural Shifts<\/strong>: Larger bodies are becoming more accepted and celebrated, reducing societal pressure to diet obsessively.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Genetics and Environment<\/strong>: Genetics, combined with environmental factors such as stress and access to healthful foods, play a role in shaping body sizes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"h-not-a-cosmetic-concern\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Not a \u2018cosmetic concern\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>Social media has undeniably changed the way we connect, consume, and live. But while its influence has brought many positives, such as global connectivity and access to information, it also has a darker side: its subtle yet significant contribution to rising rates, which the reports has doubled since 1990.<\/p>\n<p>From promoting unhealthy habits to encouraging sedentary behavior, social media plays a role in shaping lifestyles that may lead to weight gain. While big might be beautiful, the warns that \u201cobesity isn\u2019t just a cosmetic concern.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a medical problem that increases the risk of many other diseases and health problems,\u201d writes the clinic of the 2.5 billion global adults who are overweight. \u201cHealth issues include heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver disease, sleep apnea and certain cancers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ultimately, beauty isn\u2019t about fitting into a mold but embracing individuality. Social media is amplifying that message \u2013 and if used mindfully, it can continue to redefine beauty standards in empowering ways.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>What are your thoughts on social media and its influence on beauty standards? Please let us know what you think and then share this story with your friends so we can hear from them!<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_683\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"683\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"far\" data-icon=\"chart-bar\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chart-bar fa-w-16 fa-2x\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M396.8 352h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V108.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v230.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm-192 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V140.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v198.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm96 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V204.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v134.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zM496 400H48V80c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16H16C7.16 64 0 71.16 0 80v336c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h464c8.84 0 16-7.16 16-16v-16c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16zm-387.2-48h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8v-70.4c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v70.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8z\" class=\"\"><\/path><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Social media has revolutionized nearly every aspect of modern life, and according to a study, it\u2019s also had a sizable influence on the standards of beauty. Historically, beauty standards for women have been narrowly defined. From Marilyn Monroe\u2019s curves in the 1950s to the waifish figures of 1990s supermodels, the ideal body type has changed&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=683\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;Plus size is the new average: American women big and beautiful&rdquo;<\/span> &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_683\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"683\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"far\" data-icon=\"chart-bar\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chart-bar fa-w-16 fa-2x\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M396.8 352h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V108.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v230.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm-192 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V140.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v198.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm96 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V204.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v134.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zM496 400H48V80c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16H16C7.16 64 0 71.16 0 80v336c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h464c8.84 0 16-7.16 16-16v-16c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16zm-387.2-48h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8v-70.4c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v70.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8z\" class=\"\"><\/path><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":684,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":27,"today_views":0},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/683","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=683"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/683\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":685,"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/683\/revisions\/685"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}