I don't know about other parts of the globe, but here anyways it seems sizes are getting larger despite the number on the tag.

For example, my mom finally lost quite a bit of weight and had to go clothes shopping, which she hates with a passion and does very rarely. She started out in what should have been only a size or two smaller than what she was wearing, which should have been sufficient. However ended up going down 4 sizes to find ones that actually fit. These jeans were the same name brand as the ones she'd bought a number of years ago. She didn't lose THAT much weight, but had to drop down the size more than was actually necessary because of the sizing.

I've also had similar problems, even within the same name brands of jeans. I've both lost and gained alot of weight (I normally have to keep 4 sizes of jeans in my closet at any given time).

What I'm noticing is that say a person wears what was a size 10 from six years ago, they don't lose or gain any weight, go clothes shopping, and suddenly they are wearing a size 8. Ego trip? definately!

Sizes are relative depending on the manufacturer and how much they percieve the public wants to have smaller sizes on the tags. So in fact a size 0 could actually have been a size 6 ten years ago, but because of the trends it has changed.

As for banning the very small sizes I think that's just nuts! I have a cousin that is very very tiny naturally as well as very short, and she's always complaining because she can't find any adult looking clothing in her size. She ends up having to shop in the childrens section because there are no adult clothes her size. The problem is she works in a very professional office and can't exactly dress for the job if all her clothes have winnie the poo on them and little frilly lace decor!