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Still trying to squeeze into those size 8 jeans or that sea foam bridesmaid dress from your cousin’s wedding back in 1997? Ladies, it might be time to clear out your wardrobe. A recent U.K. study found the average woman has 12 items of clothing worth $459 gathering dust in their closet because they are either too big or too small for them to wear, reports the Telegraph. That’s a total of $8.5 billion worth of clothes waiting for the day when they might fit again.
The study quizzed British women aged between 18 and 65 on their dieting habits and the effect they have had on their wardrobe. Not only did more than half the women polled admit to buying clothes that were too small in the hope they will fit into them one day, but the researchers also found women lied about their weight. Thanks to yo-yo dieting, women had three different sizes in their closet to accommodate their fluctuating girth.
But what exactly motivates the fairer sex to hit the gym? The findings said it all came down to a glance in the mirror (72%), unflattering Facebook photos (55%) and upcoming events like birthdays or weddings (38%). Even more depressing, only 2% of women polled were happy with their bodies, while most consider themselves “frumpy” and one in ten think they’re fat.