Demand bulges for big clothes: Nation's obesity epidemic sees huge rise in 'plus size' sales Sales of larger-size women's clothes have risen by almost a quarter in five years 'Plus size' sales will be worth £6.26 billion in 2013 Figures come after report revealed the severely obese are continuing to get larger Clothing sales in Britain may be in the doldrums thanks to the economic slump, but the nation's obesity epidemic has sparked a massive jump in sales of "plus size" clothes, new statistics show. Sales of larger-size women's clothes have risen by almost a quarter in five years and show no signs of slowing, according to market research firm Key Note. It calculates that "plus size" sales will be worth £6.26 billion in 2013 - up 21.4 per cent since 2008 - and forecasts they will reach £7.57 billion by 2017. Rising obesity figures have led to a boom in the sales of 'plus size' clothing, new figures have shown By comparison, overall clothing sales have all but flatlined. The UK is now one of the fattest nations in Europe, according to the World Health Organisation. Two-thirds of adults are overweight, while at least one in four is obese. High Street names such as M&S, Next and H&M have developed "plus size" ranges, while Debenhams is introducing Size 16 shop mannequins. Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, said: "People say clothes retailers are normalising obesity. They're not - they are simply responding to demand. People, particularly women, have to buy clothes that fit them. The figures come after it was revealed the majority of adults have stopped getting fatter in the past decade. Though fewer people are putting on weight, the average national size is increasing due to a 'hardcore' of obese people who continue to get larger. A study which looked at 160,000 adults in England between 1992 and 2010 found that a quarter of men and a third of women with an existing high body mass index (BMI) - a measure of weight in comparison to height - remain susceptible weight-gain. The study found the average man gained two pounds per year while the average woman gained only one. Currently two-thirds of adults are classed as overweight or obese.