CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A survey measuring body sizes shows Americans are getting taller and heavier.

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TC2, a company based in Cary, N.C., measured 10,000 Americans of all ages and ethnicities in 13 cities using light-pulsing, 3-D scanner technology.

Size 8 used to be considered average for the American woman. It's supposed to be a 35-inch bust, a 27-inch waist, and a 37.5-inch hip.

However, the survey found the average white woman between the ages of 18 and 25 has a 38-inch bust, a 32-inch waist and a 41-inch hip. White women between the ages of 36 and 45 have average dimensions of 41-34-43.

"From looking at the interim survey data, we can see the U.S. population has grown taller and heavier, but we are growing heavier faster than we are taller," said Jim Lovejoy, director of TC2's SizeUSA project.

The last survey of American bodies was in 1941 and involved measuring tapes.

The company said its data will be useful to clothing manufacturers, some of which have been adding inches to clothing to make it appear that a woman wears a size smaller than she actually does.

"I have shown several manufacturers the bust, waist and hip measurements of women who say they wear size 8-10, and they are surprised to see how much larger all three of the measurements are than their fit specs," Lovejoy said.