Is a size 14 big?

Another point about the poster that mentioned weight blindness

That is absolutely true!

At a size 14 i would always say i carried it well but hated the way i looked in pictures and thought i "looked skinnier in person" however after loosing over 2 stone I can now see i was overweight, big all over, my face, the tops of my arms, my thighs and calfs even though my stomach was relatively flat.

People that are saying size 14 is not big have just adapted to the increase in standards over the years.

Im not judging, i was that size and many people around me are that size and bigger, however if we dont admit its an issue I worry the obesity epidemic will only get worse.

we as a nation have lost sight on what a normal healthy weight is.

Annnd bingo. 🙄

Only just noticed the OP’s reference to ‘obscenely overweight’ so over and out. How judgemental and rude.

I went from an 8 to a 14 during Covid and went up to 83kg. I'm 5'4 and felt afwul so big, my tummy and face, i hardly recognised myself.

Thankfully im back to a size 8 and 57kg.

But's its all about perceptive.

I'm 5'7". Size 6, 7 and a half stone. I'd feel huge at anything larger. But I'm anorexic, so absolutely nobody should follow my lead with regards to weight.

Halve your carbs and fats and double your fruit and salads. Your skin will be clearer your hair will be glossier and you’ll have more energy.

I would say it’s not, but it does depend on so many factors- your height, the individual clothes shops and how you actually feel in your own skin.

For me that is too heavy. I am overweight but wear a size 12 most brands. I have clothes in my loft from the 1980s when I was 3 stone lighter that are size 12, they are considerably smaller. Vanity sizing and the “ oh 14 is average” are unhelpful.
What is important are health indicators. It might be worth getting a health review at your gp if you are entitled to one. If not most gyms have equipment hat will give you a good indicator of percentage fat, muscle, bone density and fitness levels as appropriate for your age, If all is good then you can be confident that you are acting and exercising effectively. If not you can make changes

Shop sizes are completely meaningless. I have clothes that range from UK size 6 to (one pair of baggy shorts) size 14 and they all fit me fine. I'm really short (5'2) and have a 'strong' build.
My mother is even shorter than me and wears a 12-14. She's not overweight and never has been.
I'd say for someone as tall as 5'7 size 14 definitely doesn't mean big. But it also depends on lots of things.
I don't think clothing sizes mean anything at all as long as you are healthy and comfortable.

That's me. I'm short and definitely fat.

You're taller so might well not be at all

I'm 5' 8 and would feel large at 12 stone.

I'm currently 10st 10 which is just about right for me (between size 10-12)

To me yes because I am 5ft4 and a size 8 and weigh 56kg. However to me my size is normal for me…

Im and 10 and my bmi is overweight! When I was an 8 I felt too thin. I was a size 26 4 years ago - that was an awful feeling every second of every day.

Are you happy as you are? That's all that should really matter, but no, I would say nowhere near big x

A size 14 is the equivalent of a size Large.
Just because most of the UK are overweight or obese, and a size 14 is 'normal' because of these stats, it doesn't mean it's not overweight.

we as a nation have lost sight on what a normal healthy weight is. A size 14 in the 80s is not the same as a 14 now. As a nation we are getting bigger and by attitudes like yours and the 'body positivity' movement, a size 18 won't be classed as overweight soon as it's the norm.

im not saying the above is aimed at you personally, but as a whole, being a size 'large' will indicated that person is overweight.

Is size 14 big? Who cares. Size doesn't matter, only happiness matters.
Skinny toned bodies look good. Larger voluptuous bodies with rolls of fat look good.

What saccharine nonsense. Rolls of fat don’t look good and even more salient - it’s extremely unhealthy.

If you were 5'2 I'd say yes. It also depends where your fat is located, belly fat is unhealthier than say thicker thighs and hips. You sound fine to me.

More about height. Im in a 12 jeans. But everyone (my kids/mum etc) is calling me fat. Im 12stone 5'4. Bmi about 27

It really depends on body shape and fat distribution.

If tall with an hourglass figure, flat stomach, small waist a woman wouldn’t likely look big. Vs someone with an apple body shape, short.

I must caveat that I’m not saying one body type is better than the other.

This is why BMI is helpful, even if flawed. Some people are obviously not able to just look at themselves and see if they're thin or fat and need some kind of measurement to help them.

I’m the same height as you and weigh around 12.5st atm. Fluctuates between 12.1 and 12.10ish. I have been assured on many occasions by nurses,Drs, consultants etc that my weight is not a risk to my health or causing me any health issues. So that’s good enough for me!

I wear a size 14: Next, M&S, Oliver Bonas etc and feel I look great. I go to the gym and walk lots.
Life is too short to wish my body were smaller - I’m late 50s. DH, my DCs and DGCs will not love me any more if I lost a stone or two.
That’s all I need!

I kept a lovely black velvet pencil skirt that I had in the late 70's. It is a classic garment but there is no way I will ever fit into it again. It is a size 12 and the label states "waist 24 inches". I think that would be about an 8 today. I am loads bigger today sadly but I try to eat healthy food and walk as much as I can. I go by how well my clothes fit, if doing up a zip is starting to feel like a surgical procedure I cut down on the treats. As someone said in another comment people tend to be bigger these days and sizes have been adapted to accommodate this change

Average and healthy are two completely different things.

Below average doesn’t make it not ‘big’ though.

It is all depending on person preference. I’ve been between a size 12 - 16 at various points in my life. It was hard to maintain being a size 12 and I felt slightly uncomfortable at a full 16. But that is literally just me. I’m 5’ 7” and have had two babies and I’m a size 14 currently, feel totally fine and happy with myself (as much as can be).

I have friends of all different sizes and their dress size is the least interesting thing about them.

As long as your clothes fit properly then any size is the right one. Wearing stuff that's too small could make a model look tubby!
Some people have wider shoulder, hips, bigger butt, longer/shorter torso etc. you can get five people who all wear a size 14 and they could well look physically quite different. But if it fits, then it's right.
Sizes very wildly between garments and retailers anyway. I can be anything from a 6 to a 12. Though I do like oversized knitwear, jackets etc.