Ask the doctor: My waist has expanded but I haven’t gained weight. Is this because I’ve stopped wearing a belt?

The article in your December 2014 issue about women?s waistlines expanding the past few years intrigued me, because I have experienced an increase, and I have not gained weight. My theory is that the styles of the past few years?pants riding low on the hips, no belts at the waist, and loose shirts?may have caused my waist to increase from 24 to 25? inches. I am 59 years old, so it also could be aging in general, but I still think the belted styles kept women smaller. Am I right?