To ask what you think when you see a young, fat person?

I am twice your age so you are definitely young to me!

No I didn't mistake my personal experience for a scientific study, how fucking rude. Understanding of infertility is really poor, and there is so little interest in women's health. Medical language and attitudes around infertility are shaming and callous for so many women who are struggling and these are women of all sizes. Infertility can also be a consequence of being underweight, but a lot of the time weight isn't a factor, or rather the cause simply isn't known. Women carry so much blame for what is perceived as their body's failures and shortcomings - this again is women of all sizes I'm talking about.

Again, from my own personal experience - which don't worry, I understand is a sample of one thanks very much, I have an extremely successful career, mentor people who see my path as one to follow (I'm sure yes, they'd rather be the thinner version of me and so would I! I have spent three quarters of my life engaged in pursuit of weight loss) and I have a very happy marriage and while I have never considered myself especially attractive at any weight I've been, I don't think that contributes to my value as a person. I know plenty of older women who I look up to, in my field and in others, who are fat or aren't gorgeous to look at and that's fine - I find it inspiring when women succeed and I think appearance is secondary. Of course I would like to be thin and beautiful, but it's not the be all and end all. We can have a happy life anyway so spare us your pity and contempt.

My point is just that the things you list - being unattractive, being unsuccessful, being infertile or unhealthy or single - are things that can happen to thin women too. And this thread is just a really unpleasant read as people feel free to give vent to all the horrible things they feel about fat women and the ways in which they want to blame absolutely everything bad on fatness. I think being judgemental and unkind is worse, quite frankly.

And it's not the elephant in the room when everyone else is saying it!

It’s so common now that it wouldn’t spark a thought really. I guess if I were to think anything it would be that there are so many more young fat people than there used to be, and that’s not a good thing and I might start to think of reasons why that is.

Sometimes I feel sad. Only because I think being overweight/obese can be a slippery slope and an easier one to turn around from while you're young than when you're old.

Honestly, my knee-jerk response is distaste because my mother was so repulsed by the concept of being fat and used to comment on larger people if we saw them. I was a fat child/teen and did not escape her comments. Much as I dislike it, a lot of her attitude is still in my head.

I wouldn't actually say or do anything to express this, though!

I think, having lost 10 stone, regained it after a mobility limiting accident and then losing it again, that it's a massive shame to be overweight in your 20s/30s/40s and miss out of being able to be active/risk your health/miss out on wearing whatever you like as opposed to possibly hiding yourself (as I did).

It never limited me re career, imo, but I was embarrassed by my body and it stopped me riding, big passion, because I refuse to impose my weight on a horse, obviously. It definitely limits you in certain areas of life and having to ask for a seat belt extender on a plane was excruciating.

I wouldn’t honestly think anything in particular but if your weight did register for some reason it would be out of a concern for your health, not in any judgemental way. I am overweight too so that would be extremely hypocritical 😀

I think "gosh i hope they sort it while young". I know weight loss is never easy but my experience (having been slim my whole life) is that once you hit perimenopause (any time from late 30s onwards), weight loss is near impossible.

Its just so bad for your health, being overweight is life limiting.

I would probably not notice tbh.
But if I did, my thoughts would be that I think you're finding your feet with regards to when people move out of their parents home, they have to learn how to cook for one rather than a family, having enough money for good food, having enough time to go and get the food and make it etc.
Also many medications cause weight gain: steroids, contraception etc. So it could be that you're navigating something big health wise and this is another symptom you're trying to work through.
Many people who move out and onto uni, change shape, skin gets better/worse because there's no mum or dad there to cook whilst they study etc.
It takes time and I would just assume that's what is going on.

I want to add that on a few occasions I have also seen very overweight young women looking absolutely stunning. On three occasions my head was turned by how good they looked in dresses that would not have looked as good on skinnier women.

I don't think anything, except maybe if they were very obese, in which case I would feel sorry for them. Otherwise I just register them as another person.

If 26 isn't young, then 40 is most certainly old! How'd you like that, Mumsnet?

You're young! Don't worry.

For an adult, nothing, unless they were extremely obese. Then I'd probably think that was sad and wonder what happened to them, same as I would for a very emaciated person. Just overweight is so common now it doesn't even register. I do feel judgement towards the parents when I see a very overweight child. Probably unfair because it's clearly a social problem, but I bet a lot of people feel it, at least briefly.

I have a family member who is getting visibly larger every time I see them, only 20, I fear for their health greatly.

I love them and it hurts me to think they’ll be being judged by others.

I think being young you have enough going on trying to navigate the world without your weight weighing heavily on your mind.

As for seeing obese youngsters when I’m out and about, yes I notice and then I’m thinking about something else.

It’s so common now, it wouldn’t even register with me.

If I was to really think about it, I would probably feel sorry for them. I know that sounds condescending. I used to be overweight in my 20s, and it made me very, very unhappy.

I think the younger generation now seem to embrace body positivity, but it was almost shameful to be overweight even 20 years ago, especially in the eyes of older women. All you have to do is watch an early episode of “Friends” (fat Monica) and you’ll see that for yourself.

I've got to be honest, I feel sad for them. Not from an aesthetic point of view, for their health.

I'm not talking about someone who's a size 14, but if someone is that overweight that it will be affecting their energy levels/health/activities they can do, I just worry for them. They're in what should be the prime of their life, and it's only going to go downhill.

If you can get a grip on it early on, and get into good eating/exercise habits, life will be a lot easier as you age.

There's a local family I've known for years who have all been overweight their whole life (parents were also overweight) and they've all got health problems likely caused by their weight, in their 40's. Their children are going the same way.

It entirely depends on how overweight the person is. Clearly ‘overweight’ or even ‘obese’ but not obviously impeded by their size then it wouldn’t really register unless (and I am sorry for saying this) I was sat by them in a plane/train etc where their size impacted me and I couldn’t do anything about it.

If it was obvious the person was unable to properly walk, was using a mobility scooter or was absolutely exceptional in weight the same way a 7ft man would be then yes I would notice and wonder why and how they got to be that size.

The only time I judge is when I see ‘body positivity’ influencers because it’s not positive. It’s unhealthy and they are damaging their lives and health.

Sympathetic towards others. No one gets big like that for no reason. We all have struggles it's just some are more obvious than others.

I generally don't even notice as the majority of British people are overweight. However, I notice the overall trend rather than individuals. I do notice that more young people are overweight than when I was young for example, and I do think it's worrying. I do think about the reasons for this, such as more sedentary lifestyles and UPFs.
I wouldn't really notice you though, if you walked past me in the street.

Not all weight problems are caused by overeating 🙄

Perhaps you are just beautiful, AugustSlipped. I've never been overweight but I've also never had random people coming up to me and saying I am beautiful (apart from men who were being sleazy creeps).

A bit sad.

I think: Unfair. We have failed them. I thought that just the other day in town, walking past so many borderline obese teens.

As a society we have created endless means of avoiding exercise (escalators, lifts, travelators, remote controls, mobile phones.) We have sold off school playing fields, We drive everywhere and have made it unsafe to walk to school due to the amount of traffic on the roads. We have tripled or quadrupled portion sizes since the 1970s and we have increased the availability of addictive UPF and made snacking habitual. It's hard to recognise genuine hunger any more.