who was the idiot who said that size12/14 was 'chubby'?

[mrsfuzzy]

spitting feathers over an article i read yesterday in the newspaper about this subject. it's common knowledge that the average size is 16 and over in this country so how would that make a lot of women feel? does it really matter what your size? also why the emphasis on women why not men? many of them carry weight, noone seems to say anything about it. we all come in various shapes, sizes and colours and everyone is unique and beautiful in their own way be it inside or out. media should stop giving us these so called ideals and let us decide for ourselves how we wish to look.

[Boomerwang]

12/14 is only chubby if you're under 5 foot tall imo.

[TheCatIsEatingIt]

On me, it is.

[Boomerwang]

And I agree with you that there's so much emphasis on women rather than men. I can't be bothered to dissect the many reasons why, but it would be nice if the score was evened.

[Alligatorpie]

Aim 5'2 and I feel chubby in a 12/14

[SirDoris]

5'6". Size 12. Not chubby!

[FrothyDragon]

My mother, I think...

I put on a load of weight after leaving DS's father. Was trying to lose it and while visiting her, she pointed out "Haven't your thighs got huge? It's odd, because your top half is still quite slim, but your thighs..."

[Pooka]

On me it is too. But that doesn't mean I could care less about what other people weigh. I just know that I'm chubby at the moment and when I'm a 10-12 I'm not (5'5").

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Sizes are meaningless, and so is the statement that the average women is a size 16, or that 12/14 is 'chubby'. I have loads of size 14s and some 16s from Karen Millen and they fit me just as well as size 8s from Fat Face.

I agree, there's far too much yakking on about it in the media and it is crap for people's confidence. It's not as if medics withold the information about healthy eating so we're forced to read the Mail to learn whether or not we need to lose weight!

[Boomerwang]

I'm guessing the sizing is done by standard measurements rather than fluctuations from designer to designer.

I don't know what the standard measurements are but I'm sure someone else here will.

[StaceymReadyForNumber3]

It definately depends on height. Sizes are irrelevant tbh as they vary so much shop to shop too.

[ObiWan]

It depends on your frame, doesn't it. Size 12/14 would be seriously big for me (5' 2). Size 16 would almost certainly mean I was obese.

That size 16 is the average, probably just means that the majority of poeple are carrying more than the optimum weight.

Men often have their weight commented upon, if they are making a career out of how they look.
And all of the Government/NHS wafflings on weight are pitched at men and women.

It isn't just about how you look, the govermnent are mainly concerned with how much your healthcare is going to cost them.

Media/celeb articles are usually just pandering to peoples inner bitch.

[OwedToAutumn]

Yes, but mrsfuzzy, we have an obesity epidemic. Our average size is too high. Obviously it varies from person to person, but I think you may well find that many size 16 women are overweight, even though this is average.

I agree that in many gossipy newspapers and magazines, this is portrayed as a female problem, when many men are also overweight.

But this doesn't mean it's okay and healthy for about one in five of us to be obese, and an additional nearly half of men and nearly one third of women to be overweight.

[littlebird3]

I'm 5ft 2 & would be overweight if I was size 12. On a taller person 12-14 can look very slim.

[JeezyOrangePips]

12/14 can be chubby. It depends on height/build.

I am chubby at that size. Sadly, I'm beyond that at the moment and am simply fat. But I'm working on being chubby again :)

Just because something is average doesn't mean it's acceptable/healthy. With weight/size, you have to bear in mind that there is not that many sizes less than average, but lots and lots higher than average, so average is almost inevitably on the large side of normal.

[VolumeOfACone]

I'm five foot so a size 14 would be chubby on me! Or maybe plump.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

boomer - but that's the point, there isn't a standard measurement for what these sizes are, people have been trying to get them standardized for years.

[Callisto]

Size 12 can be chubby, size 14 definitely is. And whilst I agree that women should be comfortable with however they look and that there should be much less emphasis on trying to look like a barbie doll, being overweight is not good for you, and people who are overweight and obese (men and women) need more medical interventions, putting more strain on the NHS.

[Helmondo]

I think it depends on the person tbh, I'm 6ft and a size 10/12, but I went up to a 14 about 3 years ago after dd1 was born, IMO I did look chubby because you could see it in my face too. I think it's all about proportions, some people don't look chubby at all in a size 12/14, but others really do me

[WearingGreen]

I'm little, (5'0"), if I was a 14 I'd be obese. My BMI is right on the border of overweight (and it ain't muscle) and I'm a size 8. A modern size 8 you understand, my size 8s from 5 years ago don't come close. I don't really follow the argument that most people are a size 16 therefore 12/14 isn't chubby. I think the logical conclusion is that an awful lot of people are overweight but I do agree that the media obsession with women's weight is unhelpful and bordering on spiteful but otoh it is pointless trying to tell a generally unfit, overweight and unhealthy population that its fine to be overweight because you are unique and beautiful because the bottom line is being fat limits your life both in terms of its length and in terms of what you can do.

[RubyCreakingGates]

Another 5'4" here. If I'm wearing a 12 I'm "chubby" if I ever got to a 14 I'd be positively fat/obese.

Size 16 might be average, but on most women it's NOT healthy.

[MoomieAndFreddie]

it would be chubby on me - am only five foot 2. it sucks having to remain a size 8 just to look in proportion

if i was five 6 or taller i think anything from 12 - 16 would look fine

@ tall women

[GetOrfAKAMrsUsainBolt]

I am the same as helmondo - I would look chubby at a 12, but everyone's build is different and many people I am sure are at their optimum size at a 12.

Not that it means bugger all, with sizes different in every shop and the modern 12 probably more like a size 16 from the 1980s.

There is a genuine debate about the fact that our 'norm' is a lot bigger than it used to be, or should be, but I generally HATE the vilification that women have to deal with re their body size. Its all over the media all the time - front cover of a magazine supposedly praising slebs for 'embracing their curves' when in reality they are inviting us to see how fat people are this week, and gleefully judge. That is pernicious and all encompassing.

[GetOrfAKAMrsUsainBolt]

I am the same as helmondo - I would look chubby at a 12, but everyone's build is different and many people I am sure are at their optimum size at a 12.

Not that it means bugger all, with sizes different in every shop and the modern 12 probably more like a size 16 from the 1980s.

There is a genuine debate about the fact that our 'norm' is a lot bigger than it used to be, or should be, but I generally HATE the vilification that women have to deal with re their body size. Its all over the media all the time - front cover of a magazine supposedly praising slebs for 'embracing their curves' when in reality they are inviting us to see how fat people are this week, and gleefully judge. That is pernicious and all encompassing.

[ZiggyPlayedGuitar]

Have to agree size 12-14 is a bit chubby on me.
The point is whether you care or not. I don't mind being a bit chubs but don't like to go any further as that's just unhealthy.

I'm a 12 at the moment, need to lose a stone so I can comfortably put it all back on at Christmas

[Ephiny]

For me, if I needed the average high-street size 14/16 I would consider myself fat, not just chubby, and I am not under 5'. I am chubby at size 10/12.

The average woman may be a 16, but the average woman is overweight i.e. chubby (so is the average man, of course).