Marks and Spencer, John Lewis, and Debenhams have reduced their plus-size ranges. According to a study by Edited, these retailers have scaled back their extended size products, particularly affecting the largest sizes (22-24). This reduction comes as millions of people use weight loss medications such as Mounjaro. The proportion of larger-sized items on Marks and Spencer's website has fallen from 34% to 27%, while John Lewis' plus-size range has decreased from 22.3% to 19.2%.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Marks and Spencer, John Lewis, and Debenhams have reduced their plus-size ranges, a trend likely linked to the increasing use of weight loss treatments. According to Edited, a retail intelligence platform, these retailers are among several High Street stalwarts that have scaled back their extended size products. The analysis looked at new listings for women's dresses on retailer websites in July and August this year, compared to the same period in 2024, and found that larger-sized items, particularly sizes 22-24, were disproportionately reduced. This shift is attributed to consumers' changing body compositions due to weight loss treatments like Mounjaro, with some predicting up to one in eight Britons could be on a weight loss treatment by next year. Market research firm Mintel found that 8% of British adults already use such treatments, which may be driving the shift away from plus-size ranges.
Written for “Body Image Concerns Rise” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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several fashion retailers in the UK are retreating from plus-size ranges
right implies a negative consequence for consumers
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concerns have been raised about the potential for larger people to be 'shut out' of High Street fashion
left expresses concern for inclusivity and body positivity
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the rising popularity of so-called fat jabs is believed to have had a negative effect on 'inclusivity' among Generation Z and younger millennials
left attributes a negative consequence to weight loss treatments
Leaning score -0.55 for article 6384 (high confidence, 3 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-07
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Marks and Spencer and John Lewis are scaling back their plus size ranges amid surging use of weight loss jabs, according to new analysis.
uncertain
Marks → see → analysis
The chains are among High Street stalwarts found to have reduced the scale of extended size products, a study by retail intelligence platform Edited has found.
asserted
study → find → Edited
It comes as millions of people turn to revolutionary weight loss drugs such as Mounjaro.
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millions → come → Mounjaro
Edited examined the number of new listings for women's dresses on retailers' websites, comparing July and August this year with the same period in 2024 – and looked at the proportion of larger-sized items.
asserted
Edited → examine → items
Reductions in some ranges were particularly pronounced for the largest sizes, 22 to 24, Edited found.
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Edited → pronounce → sizes
Krista Corrigan, senior retail analyst at Edited, told The Daily Telegraph: 'Several fashion retailers in the UK are retreating from plus-size ranges.
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retailers → tell → ranges
Strategies are shifting in response to consumers' needs and changing body compositions.
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Strategies → shift → compositions
'
There are predictions as many as one in eight Britons could be on some sort of weight loss treatment by next year.
uncertain
Britons → be → year
A recent study by market research firm Mintel found eight per cent of British adults have used a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) injection or another form of prescription weight-loss medication.
asserted
cent → find → medication
Fat jabs such as Mounjaro are being taken by millions of people to reduce their weight
Edited tracked items as they launched on retailers' websites.
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they → take → websites
At M&S, it found that the proportion of new dresses offered as size 18 and above fell from 34pc to 27pc.
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proportion → find → 27pc
The very largest sizes, 22 to 24, accounted for only 0.4pc of dresses this summer compared with 2.2pc two years ago.
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sizes → account → 2.2pc
Analysis of John Lewis's range showed that while the overall number of new plus size dresses increased, the largest sizes only accounted for 19.2pc of the range this summer, down from 22.3pc in 2024.
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sizes → show → 2024
Meanwhile, at Debenhams, plus size dresses accounted for 17.4pc of those on sale, down from 23pc.
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dresses → account → 23pc
For George at Asda, the share of new-in plus-sized clothes remained steady at 43-44pc in the last few years.
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share → remain → years
GLP-1 weight loss treatments were once primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes but have become more mainstream.
But concerns have been raised about the potential for larger people to be 'shut out' of High Street fashion.
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people → use → fashion
Tamara Sender Ceron, associate principal on Fashion Retail at Mintel, said the rising popularity of so-called fat jabs is believed to have had a negative effect on 'inclusivity' among Generation Z and younger millennials.
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popularity → say → Z
Fashion influencer Caroline Sigamoney has criticised a 'lack of inclusive sizing' at M&S, adding: 'This is exactly why so many plus-size women have given up shopping on the high street.'
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women → criticise → street
Catherine Shuttleworth, chief executive of retail consultancy Savvy Marketing, said increased use of GLP-1s would 'undoubtedly' impact fashion due to the changing shape of consumers – but she believes retailers would be 'closely analysing buying habits for shifts in demand'.
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retailers → say → demand
A M&S spokesman said the company offered 'an extensive range of sizes across womenswear, with sizes 8-18 available across all stores' with larger sizes up to 24 'available online and in selected stores'.
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company → say → stores
John Lewis said: 'We're committed to inclusive fashion, and work closely with brands that specialise in plus-size fashion or offer extended sizing'.
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that → say → sizing
Meanwhile, Debenhams said the Edited figures reflect its expansion to 'include more than 25,000 third-party brands, rather than a reduction in its own plus-size offer' which includes its Curve range.
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which → say → range
