Women Increase by one dress size per decade?

[llewtrah]

I can't remember where I heard or read it, but after reaching our adult build (I guess at age 18-20) women supposedly gain one dress size for each decade of life.

I was UK size 12 when I was 20. By 30 I was size 14. At 40 I was size 16 (though I'd bloated much larger before getting my diet and weight under control). My sisters follow the same trend, but mum was size 14 between age 30 - 60 so if there is any truth in it, it has to be related to the modern lifestyle! I have no intention of being a UK size-24 80-year old!

Has anyone else come across this "fact" about growth? Presumably the size 0 supermodels would have to gain several decades' worth of weight overnight!