To wonder how I’m perceived as a bigger woman after the previous thread?

I'm slim, but not skinny (size 8/10). Day to day, I think about my own body changes, but I only notice other people's bodies if they are very under or over weight or very athletic/ built.

To add, I really don't give other people's bodies much thought tbh.

@BambALamb that might be true for a few younger people? Weight restored eating disorder patients usually fit into the normal BMI though. If you aren't eating abnormally and have no issues, you might just have a petite frame, but most people at BMI 15 would be firmly in the eating disorders categorisation, it's a blunt instrument, but I have to tell you a BMI of 15 is not in any way standard at any age. See below: (you can also have an eating disorder such as bulimia and be a standard or overweight BMI):

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8837073/#:~:text=Defining%20severity%20in%20anorexia%20nervosa,between%2015%20and%2015.9)%2C%20and

Defining severity in anorexia nervosa (AN) is a significant challenge, therefore in 2013, the DSM-5 [1]—in line with the new specifiers for mental disorders—introduced body mass index (BMI) specifiers, including mild (i.e., BMI ≥ 17), moderate (i.e., BMI between 16 and 16.9), severe (i.e., BMI between 15 and 15.9), and extreme (BMI < 15).

This. I constantly berate myself for being bigger than I ‘should’ be, but give zero hoots about anyone else who is bigger. I would probably look at you OP and think ‘she’s got a nice bum’ 😅

At one stage I was a BMI of 24 during Covid and felt very chunky. {5foot 8 and 11stone}

Now it's 21 and I really don't want to go above this.

But as regards other people - I only notice if they are very obese and it is actually affecting me - eg, if they are pushing me out of a seat so I'm sitting on just a few centimetres of seat on a bus or train.

Otherwise no.

Hmm, I have a “very thin” friend. She has cystic fibrosis. Her mental health is great. Despite random strangers assuming that she has an eating disorder or mental health difficulties.

Presumably because someone that thin is unlikely to be in a good place mentally. They would either have an eating disorder, or a serious physical health problem, which would make them pretty miserable. The poster was counting her blessings.

I disagree, I have an underweight BMI but I very much look just slim/curvy! I even had people telling me how healthy I looked recently and talking to me about how their other friends are so skinny they feel the need to diet, which made me think hold on I’m not one of the skinny friends! I think I only start to look skinny when I have a BMI of around 15-16 so it varies wildly person to person!

Honestly, I don’t even think about my own weight and I never have. I have been an old school 10 and a modern day 16 (now a solid 14) so I definitely don’t care how fat or thin other women are.
I notice lovely clothes, good skin, nice hair and general shape. It feels more important to look healthy than thin I think.
Sometimes I think I have a reverse body dysmorphia in that I look at myself in my pants and go “damn girl, looking good!” and I don’t really give a shit what anyone else thinks, as long as I can do my jeans up.
Just make sure you can run up a few flights of stairs with no bother and you’re grand.

You’re overweight but not overweight enough for anyone to particularly notice. So if I was sitting near you in the cafe I wouldn’t notice you at all, unless I especially liked your outfit or handbag or whatever. But if someone asked me to describe the appearance of the people in the cafe, I would probably include the word “overweight” in the description of you.

why did seeing that woman make you think about your own brilliant mental health? I can’t see the connection.

What thread are you talking about

People won't think one single thing about a woman of your size.

Sometimes, I will see a very, very, very large person and I do think oh my god.. but I mean, the kind of person you see on TV shows etc, not people who can still buy clothes from mainstream stores.

I'm the same size as you and also feel self conscious. But I don't look at other people.

I’m overweight, know I am, and actively choose not to diet or do anything about it.

I’m alright with it, and to be honest can’t be bothered living off salad when I could eat what I want, and be fine with the body I’m in. I’m aware I’m creating it, and I’m good with that.

Healthy BMI does not mean slim though, : someone at 18.5 is slim, someone at 25 is overweight, so between say 21-25 we are « neither slim nor fat, average

I disagree with this, most people in the 'underweight' category are beyond slim, towards skinny, and if you look at the eating disorders forums, this is where ED sufferers all want to be.

People in the 'normal' BMI category can indeed be slim, and it's advisable for most to stay in that category or even at the top end/slightly in the overweight BMI if they are older and you look at the mortality stats.

This. I've had very slim women fret to me about feeling they're overweight, when I clearly am much more overweight (and fine with it). They don't think beyond their own issues. It's part of the fixation with their looks/body image, not a slur or judgement on you/me. Most people think about themselves not other people.

So for me I also don't really notice weight- unless you are in a clinic appointment with me- and I am more bothered about people exercising than how big they are!!
I was 154kg- lost 60kg before my hubby had a brain injury. Since then I put 56kg back on. I have now lost 27.5kg since july- through diet and exercise(and weigh 121kg). However I am obese- but really active and do 7-8hours minimum physical activity a week, eat pretty healthy and am dropping weight seriously. All I notice is how much more energy I have and how I have a wobbly tummy. I do notice though slimmer people who are not physically active and I do judge that more than your weight I am afraid.... (hoping to have lost another 30kg by next summer but its definitely more difficult this time round)...

People do notice and they do judge, OP, but that is a them problem. You sound fab.

I've lost a lot of weight this year and am actively noticing the return of my 'thinner privilege'.

It has been particularly interesting at my heaviest over the last ten years to observe the shift in judgement on a first encounter based on how I looked to how I spoke. I have a stereotypically 'posh' English accent and speak confidently and articulately. I could see the wheels turn behind their eyes as people would re-evaluate the initial judgement they had made about me once I opened my mouth.

I am a size 18/20 and don't really pay attention to other people's weight unless I am having a low day wishing I was slimmer (working on it!). I do wonder what my friends and family think about my weight and feel a bit embarrassed about how I got to be overweight (big portions, pregnancy, lack of nutrition knowledge). I don't pay any attention to what other people are eating while in cafes or restaurants either regardless of their bodies.

Ha ha not sure where all the judgy people have gone. Some of the threads on here made me understand that other women judge my weight very much.

Oh god yes when the little boy has the same Moobs and beer belly as their dad. Poor kids.

This a million per cent. I made I thought an innocuous comment well factual where I stated my height and weight and that I had to deny myself to be this weight which was my choice got a snarky „well done“ like I was showing off . It wasn’t a boast it was factual and in answer to those people who think everyone who is slim is so because of fast metabolism/ genes.

would I notice you op, I would, partly because I am bonkers about my weight but I’d also think that’s not good for you and hope that you weren’t overweight because of trauma in your past. So borne out of concern. I can’t believe that anyone chooses to be fat, I’m not saying they don’t I am saying because of how I am I struggle with that as a concept!

She's size 22 American size, which is 26 in the UK, and that is a bit of a fabrication that she's been called out for. She's likely a bit bigger than that.

I do notice people's weight in bulk (sorry no pun intended) - I've recently travelled to the UK and I was surprised how overweight people were, including children, because it is quite different to where I live (Sweden).

I normally don't pay attention to people's weight unless it affects me (for instance I'd rather not sit next to OP on a crowded plane).

I have not read the original thread.

Honestly? You’d just blend in. I’m 55. People are generally a LOT fatter than they used to be when I was a kid. When I’m out and about in large groups, I always notice that, to some degree or other. Individuals? Not so much. Not unless they are noticeably huge.

I'm a 16/18 5ft 4 and 62 - I dress pretty well I think- I certainly don't think I look horrendous as I've got good boobs and legs and it's kind of spread all over , but yes of course I'm conscious that I could do with getting a bit more off health wise - I wouldn't notice other sizes particularly, unless they were maybe a UK size 26 and over but I notice more an overall 'look'.