Who makes clothes for larger women?
It's a fact that over 45% of women in the UK are a size 16 or over. Any clothing company that ignores this statistic is losing out on a huge market. Fortunately, the fashion industry has woken up to this. Here you can find out which top labels and ranges come in sizes up to 22 and beyond, and where you can try the clothes on.
Fashion-Era - plus sizes >

Why don't crash diets work?
If you listen to good advice, it is clear that losing weight gradually is much more effective than crash dieting. It is also safer. Eating very little means your body does not get enough of the nutrients, minerals and vitamins that you need, and you will end up so listless you may well feel faint from time to time. Eating just one or two different foods is not a good idea either, as this is likely to lead to a vicious cycle of starving and bingeing. Whichever way you attempt to crash diet you will certainly have no energy for keeping yourself occupied in any meaningful way that will keep your mind off food!

Any weight loss your scales register during a crash diet will come from loss of essential water, or from muscle wastage, rather than fat loss. The rate at which your body breaks down food (your metabolic rate) will also drop, meaning losing weight gets even harder.

If you aim for a weight loss of about 1kg a week, and stick to a good low-calorie diet with a well-balanced variety of foodstuffs, and combine this with a regime of regular exercise, you are far more likely to achieve a long term lifestyle change that will leave you feeling fitter, happier and the right size for you!

Dress to suit your shape
Here are lots of sensible, fun, original and inspiring tips to help you dress to suit your shape. Don't hide it - use your body to its best advantage!
Fashion tips >

Dress smart and look slimmer
Once you accept that you can no longer fool yourself about your true size, you are on the way to being a new, more positive person. Unless you are unhealthily overweight, you need do no more than start dressing to suit your shape. Don't try to squeeze yourself into tight-fitting clothes or conceal your size with baggy garments that just make you look shapeless. Take a look at this practical and relevant advice on how to dress to look slimmer.
Uniquely Woman >

International size comparisons
Going shopping on holiday in the US or Europe? Save time by checking out what size label you should be looking for.
Clothing size comparisons >

Latest Product News
Do you have news about products or services that might
interest ourreaders? We'd love to hear about it ... more