Waists and index of social change

I ltarted to read this article because I am interested in nutrician and health and I was interested to see that the catwalks might be reflecting real women rather than 'stick insects'. What I go was a fascinating treatise that shows how waist size changes are about more than our eating habits and tie into various social changes. For example;
"abdominal fat develops when a person is under long-term stress, thanks to the release of a hormone called cortisol. "
So a more stessed society changes the shape of its citizens. It is also affecting life expectancy. It may be that living to well over 80 is something that our less well nourished grandparents can expect but perhaps not us. The actuarial calculations in the pensuions debate may need to be revised after all.
And that's even before we get to thinking about what is the significance of the return of the waist in couture; apparently it's about femininity, allure and empowerment ....
or is it about elites who can afford the diets, time and lifestyles that make old-time waists possible, showing off their status in their bodies? Harking back to that pramal prejudice that studies show are still with us; the cult of beauty. To the physically attractive, the status.
Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Where did our waists go?: