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The average British woman’s body in 1957 looked quite different to the average woman’s body of today.

As you can see in the photo above, time brings about change, and in this case, time brought has brought on inches — everywhere.

The latest study by international lingerie brand Bluebella found that 60 years ago the average British woman was 5ft 2ins, weighed 9st 10lbs and had a dress size 12.

Fast forward to 2017, and she is 5ft 5ins, weighs 11st and has a dress size 16.

Her bra size has shot up more than any other part of her anatomy to a 36DD and her waistline has increased by six inches, from 28 to 34 inches.

The study analysed data on changing body shapes from government figures, and its findings revealed a shift in lifestyle as well. Women's life expecancy has gone up ten years from 73 to 83.

Bluebella chief executive Emily Bendell said that 2017's “Miss Average” was far more body-conscious than her 1957 equivalent.

"She is likely to exercise at least twice a week - consuming 2,300 calories a day compared to 1,800 calories back then,” she said. "She is much healthier than her fifties counterpart and devotes around 30 per cent more of her income to her wardrobe.”

The scale of that spending is also reflected in women’s lingerie collections. According to the study, the average woman today has twice the amount of bras compared to women in the fifties.

Higher spending was a result of higher income and changes in women’s social status.

Sixty years ago, most women were given one career option: to get married and raise children. It was uncommon for them to enter the professional field. However, today, women have a much wider choice as to what occupation they want to go into.

Miss Average in 1957, according to the study, earned just £10 a week. Flash forward 60 years, she is earning an average of £530 a week.

The changes women have gone through physically and socially in six decades show how just a few generations can affect our society.

Looking at how far women have come raises the questions: what changes can we expect in the next 60 years?