UNITED STATES, May 28: The types of colors and patterns that a person chooses to wear could be a warning sign of weight problems, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that women with a higher body mass index (BMI) are more likely to buy multicoloured and dot-patterned skirts and dresses in darker colours or with floral patterns. 

Overweight men, meanwhile, prefer to wear black or white trousers. 

The scientists argue that the finding could be used to subtly alert men and women about possible weight problems when they buy clothes via the Internet.

• Highlights
• Heavier women prefer multi-colored and dot-patterned skirts
• Overweight men prefer black or white trousers
• The findingg could be used to provide subtle warnings about weight 
• Data presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity in Vienna

'Online clothing purchase choices could be used to target non-judgemental messages about weight-management and preventing unwanted weight gain,' they said. 

A person's clothing colours and patterns  could be a warning sign of weight problems, a new study suggests. Researchers found that overweight women  are more likely to buy multicoloured and dot-patterned skirts and dresses in darker colours or with floral patterns    +2
A person's clothing colours and patterns could be a warning sign of weight problems, a new study suggests. Researchers found that overweight women are more likely to buy multicoloured and dot-patterned skirts and dresses in darker colours or with floral patterns

Clothing choice can offer clues about whether you are overweight

The study was done by Dr Charoula Nikolaou and Professor Stuart Gilmour from St Luke's International University in Tokyo, and Professor Mike Lean from the University of Glasgow's School of Medicine.

The data is being presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity in Vienna, Austria.

Previous research has suggested that the colour of clothes says a lot about a person's personality, mood, and their sense of how others perceive them.

In addition, clothing size and colour are influenced by several factors, which may include perceived or actual overweight or obesity.

Overweight men prefer to wear black or white trousers according to the study presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity in Vienna, Austria    +2
Overweight men prefer to wear black or white trousers according to the study presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity in Vienna, Austria

e best way to prevent or tackle obesity is to eat a healthy, balanced diet and to do regular exercise – the NHS recommends between two-and-a-half and five hours per week.

Overweight women prefer stripy and dotted dresses

To investigate this question, the researchers examined the relationship between BMI and the size and colours of clothes purchased from a global online retail service.

Between October and December 2017, data on body weight and height, clothing size, and colour were collected from over 34,000 customers fro 119 countries who completed feedback forms. 

The data was obtained via a website that is part of the Alibaba group, the China-based multinational e-commerce site. 

Results showed that clothing size was closely related to both BMI and waist circumference. There also appeared to be an association between colours, patterns and a person's weight.

According to The Times, the average BMI of women buying stripy or dotty dresses was 27, which is considered to be 'overweight,' while women who bought wine-red dresses had a BMI of 21, in the middle of healthy weight. Similarly, women straying towards stripes might be going towards the high end of BMI.

 
• colors
 
• patterns
 
• you
 
• choose
 
• wear
 
• reflect
 
• weight
 
• problems