To feel depressed by this DM article re size 16

[Rachtoteach]

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2342207/Is-size-16-normal--danger-These-women-Britains-common-dress-size-youd-expect-healthy-battery-medical-tests-came-surprising-worrying-results.html

After 37 years on this planet I have finally developed something I wish more women could have - an acceptance of who I am and the ability of being happy in my own body..... even though - shock, horror - I am 5ft2, size 16, 11 something stone. Anyway, I don't cry in the changing rooms anymore . I exercise 3 x week, eat a balanced-ish diet, don't smoke, blah blah blah.

It just makes me sad and mad that the DM have taken 4 size 16 women who each turn out to have some health issues, and declare (effectively) all us size 16 women a picture of ill-health! On the results of four women?!! And implying, or least leaving the reader with the impression, that any other (smaller sized) women would conversely be in tip-top health - all of them, simply based on their size!

AIBU to think that there must be some healthy size 16 women out there and probably some not so healthy smaller women? If I am BU then I may as well give up now as I know I am unlikely to ever be much smaller than I am now.

[bettycocker]

YANBU. When I was a skinny smoker, my size 16 friends were definitely healthier than I was. Nevermind the fact that I was doped uo to the eyeballs on pain killers and had serious health problems.

[StuffezLaYoni]

Yanbu. When I was 18 I was a 16 and was really active. I would kill to have that shape back now I'm 28. Stupid article though, but then we all know how the Mail loves to make us Laydeez feel shit about ourselves, don't we?

[Lovelygoldboots]

I am size 16, cycle and swim and cycled 30 miles on Sunday. I have never felt better. Yanbu.

[pigletmania]

What about getting 4 unhealthy size 8 I am sure there are them out there. Oh yanbu

[ScarletLady02]

YANBU. I'm 5'10" and a size 16 and I'd say I'm pretty healthy. I could exercise more, but I doubt I've got any major health issues. I'm healthier now than when I was a size 12 (which at 5'10" is really quite slim) smoker that's for sure.

Just because someone's "skinny" doesn't automatically mean they're healthy...they're just more acceptable to the media peddled idea of "attractive"

[EagleRiderDirk]

I've been an unhealthy 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20.

I'm just unhealthy, weight and size had nothing to do with it. I'm stuck with a lifetime condition now that kicked in when I was a 16 an helped me into 18 and 20. It affected my weight but its trigger was my age. Its a family curse and the skinny mins have it just as the fatsos like me (well, I'm a 16 again now so not so fatso).

[Dackyduddles]

I feel depressed by DM full stop.

[ScarletLady02]

I love the way they describe all the "bad" BMIs with the correct term - overweight or obese, and yet Belinda's which is "healthy" is described as "borderline"

[AKissIsNotAContract]

Don't read the DM, you'll be much happier

[javotte]

YANBU. I was a healthy size 22 (to my GP's dismay, my blood sugar / cholesterol / liver function etc. were perfect). I am a very healthy size 14 now (thanks Jillian!).

[ScarletLady02]

Hannah's should technically be "borderline" as well shouldn't it? It's only 0.2 out, so closer than Belinda's (0.3)

Bastards...

[CelticPromise]

YABU to take any nonsense in that ridiculous rag seriously.

[sparkle12mar08]

The problem is that if we look at the national, societal level, it is undoubtedly more likely that a size 16 will have more significant health problems than a size 8 or a size 10. And I say that as a size 16 woman. Individuals vary, but it is very easy to forget just how slim we can be and still be medically and unhealthily overweight. We've forgotten as a society and have come to accept that whilst 16 may now be the norm, that norm IS NOT HEALTHY for the most part. Because we desperately don't want to believe as individuals that we may be unheathy ourselves, and making poor choices for ourselves. But all the will in the world doesn't change medical fact.

[BlackeyedSusan]

just shows how stupid they are to think that anyone can draw conclusions from such a small sample size.

[pigletmania]

Javotte is tat jillian michaels 30 day shred btw, I'm doing that

[morethanalltheteainchina]

Well, unless you are incredibly tall and/or muscular, chances are that if you are a size 16, then you are over-weight. Broadly speaking, being over-weight is unhealthy in that it gives you a higher chance of certain cancers, heart disease blah blah blah.

However, it is wrong to assume that people who are under-weight or bang on the recommended weight for their height are automatically healthier than over-weight people. I know several very slim people who would be incapable of running any more than about 500m, swimming more than a few lengths, walking up lots of stairs etc.

For all the people who say they are very active etc yet still over-weight, unless you have a health issue that makes it hard for you to lose weight, how can you truly be healthy in the general sense of the world? If I am going to the gym regularly/running a lot etc, then the only way I would be over-weight at all would be if I counteracted all the activity by over-eating or eating/drinking lots of very calorific food, and this by its very nature is very unhealthy?

[CinnamonAddict]

Sorry, can't (won't) open this article, just wanted to say yanbu, it's not about dress size.
I have been a size 16/18, am a size 10 now and have just as many health issues. Had high blood pressure having just lost 5 stone. Doctors were a bit baffled, but it was stress related, not weight related. I'm back to my normal really low bp now btw.

Well done for being happy in your body, that's what is most important, regardless of dress size!
(DM, who cares what they write)

[Pozzled]

Yanbu. I am size 8-10 but am very aware that I am not in any way fit or healthy. I should be making serious improvements to my diet and getting more exercise.

[HeySoulSister]

Depends how you are measuring 'health'

Tend to think a size 16 is on the bigger end of the scale.... To me bigger means more fat. Fat isn't good.

I'm 5 11 and when I was a 16 I had very visible fat

[humdumaggapang]

YANBU. Fuck off Daily Fail is my usual response to these things. If I was a size eight, company director earning megabucks while managing to raise three well adjusted children who I always have plenty of time for so they have no need for nasty damaging childcare, and a perfect devoted husband earning just slightly more than me but not much, I might just about be acceptable in the DM world. Mysogynistic rubbish.

[Lovelygoldboots]

Oh, here we go. Yes I may be able to cycle a long distance, swim 40 lengths front crawl in 45 minutes but I am clearly not doing enough and am still an unhealthy fatty secretly stuffing my face with pies

[Lovelygoldboots]

Why is it only overweight people get judged? It's hard enough to get started because of confidence issues. I have managed it because my partner has been immensely supportive in ensuring I have the time to exercise.

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

I agree with Sparkle and I am bigger than a 16 but gentle working on it. I have low cholesterol, normal fasting blood glucose etc. so I have no obvious health problems. However, my back is stiff and my knees twinge a bit - the warning signs are there. Ultimately my weight will affect my health or quality of life.

Still think the DM is the turd of Satan.

[Shenanagins]

Heysoul makes a good point in that it's more to do with fat.

you also need to take into account your bone structure. I have a friend who is the same height as me but if she weighed the same as me would be fat, yet i am a healthy weight for my height. Likewise if i weighed the same as her, i would look ill.

so in some people a size 16 will be about right whereas in others it will mean they are at an unhealthy weight.