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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you think a women's size 16 is fat?

699 replies

LegencyMonsters · 26/03/2026 15:39

Met a friend for coffee today and we got onto the topic of weight.

I mentioned that I used to be a size 16 and said I’m glad I’m not that size anymore as I was fat. She disagreed, saying a size 16 isn’t fat and pointed out that it’s actually the average size for women in the UK. I replied that while it may be the average, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not fat.

Would you consider a size 16 to be fat or not?

AIBU - YES - of course!
YANBU - NO - Not fat at all!

OP posts:
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12
ThatArtfulStork · 26/03/2026 16:04

Oh and about two thirds of the UK population is overweight or obese. So the average size is likely to mean overweight.

YerMotherWasAHamster · 26/03/2026 16:03

Medically, probably, yes. Depending on height.

AmazingGreatAunt · 26/03/2026 16:03

I am 67, 165cm tall and can still wear M&S shorts bought in 1991, size 12. According to the label waist 26, hips 37.
Other later sizes and brands vary from XS - really! to L, so no idea.

shrolati7xe · 26/03/2026 16:03

Yes

JackandVictor · 26/03/2026 16:03

I'm short and apple shaped, when I'm a size 16 I look (and am) fat. I have a fairly tall daughter though who is not an apple shape and looks not skinny but reasonably slim at a size 16.

Notmycircusnotmyotter · 26/03/2026 16:02

It's average but it's big, unless you're like 5"11

thecatneuterer · 26/03/2026 16:02

Yes

JustGiveMeReason · 26/03/2026 16:02

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 26/03/2026 15:55

I’m 5’6” and size 14. I feel overweight. Which I am.

I’m not sure if it’s helpful to get hung up on defining when a person, or specifically a woman, becomes fat. Not least because height and build will make a huge difference.

It’s probably best to concentrate on whether a specific person is a healthy weight.

Well said.

Mischance · 26/03/2026 16:01

Depends how tall ...

Disturbia81 · 26/03/2026 16:01

I’m 5ft 7 and felt overweight, very curvy but not huge. I defo wasn’t happy like that though

ThatArtfulStork · 26/03/2026 16:01

Unless you’re very tall or very muscular yes probably.

JustGiveMeReason · 26/03/2026 16:01

Your voting options are completely counter intuitive.

If a person agrees with you, it doesn't make sense that you have asked them to vote YABU.

So I don't think you can take much notice of the poll, as some people will vote according to what your title says, and others will follow the instructions in your OP.

Lordofmyflies · 26/03/2026 16:00

I'm 5ft 11 and now a size 16. According to BMI I'm obese so yes, fat, however visually if I go down to a 12, I look awful.

Fogwood · 26/03/2026 15:58

It can depend on so much. If I buy a 16 it is to fit over my hips which have always been wide. Waist is more a 14 and I don't think people think of me as fat for a woman in her 50s. I have a shape and wear clothes that flatter my shape. I'm also above average height which might help. Some people say they are size 16 and I think they look more overweight. But maybe I'm deluded when I look in the mirror!

ArtAngel · 26/03/2026 15:58

Your voting makes no sense in the context of your OP.

Yes, 16 is a bit of a chub.

But who cares? Any more than being any other weight.

WhatAMarvelousTune · 26/03/2026 15:56

I think that her logic is flawed. Regardless of the size you’re talking about, it being the average size doesn’t make it therefore not fat, or not thin. Would she stick to that logic if the average was a size 30? Or a size 0?

Certainly I think that a lot of people would be overweight at size 16.

Original poster
LegencyMonsters · 26/03/2026 15:56

TotoandFredo · 26/03/2026 15:50

I suppose it’s all relative. I’d be very obese if I was a size 16 because I’m only 5 feet tall, but a much taller woman might not be. But I think most women would be overweight at a 16, no?

I understand that height can make a difference....for example, someone who is 5ft 1 and someone who is 5ft 9 could weigh the same, but it would affect them very differently.

However, my point is that a size 16 is a size 16 regardless of height. If you’re wearing a size 16, I would consider that to be overweight.

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 26/03/2026 15:55

I’m 5’6” and size 14. I feel overweight. Which I am.

I’m not sure if it’s helpful to get hung up on defining when a person, or specifically a woman, becomes fat. Not least because height and build will make a huge difference.

It’s probably best to concentrate on whether a specific person is a healthy weight.

HRTQueen · 26/03/2026 15:55

Some women will look not look overweight at a size 16

Others will look obese (like myself).

But for majority of woman being a size 16 is likely to be overweight but not necessarily fat

RosesAndHellebores · 26/03/2026 15:55

A size 16 isn't fat. Ever.
A person who wears a size 16 may be fat but not necessarily so.

5128gap · 26/03/2026 15:54

Size 16 refers to the measurements of a garment not the many and varied bodies of women who may buy clothes in that size.
Fat is a subjective term with no consensus as to its meaning.
If your friend was a size 16 with a BMI in the overweight range she would have been overweight. Whether she was overweight or not would not change depending on whether other women were mostly also a size 16 or mostly a size 8.

VivienneDelacroix · 26/03/2026 15:52

I feel fat at Size 16. I'm 5'7 and tend to be a Size 16 at 11 stone, which is a BMI of 24.2, so not technically over weight.

Ideally I like to stay between 9 - 10 stone, which would be a Sz 12 - Sz 14 for me and a BMI of 19-22.

Original poster
LegencyMonsters · 26/03/2026 15:50

OldestSister · 26/03/2026 15:47

I was once size 16 with a BMI of 23 (normal range) and nobody thought I was fat - height 173cm

Most of the reason I was a size 16 was that I had a rather large bosom!

Edited

What was your weight at BMI of 23 but wearing a size 16 clothing?

OP posts:
TotoandFredo · 26/03/2026 15:50

I suppose it’s all relative. I’d be very obese if I was a size 16 because I’m only 5 feet tall, but a much taller woman might not be. But I think most women would be overweight at a 16, no?

awalkalongthecanal · 26/03/2026 15:50

It was the average size for a woman a long time ago - remember Dawn French launched a clothing company called something like 1647 as 47% of women were that size or above? That was a long time ago - the size 16 back then is not the same as now. It’s definitely fat - I’m 5’10 and if I were that size I’d be huge.
just because a lot of people are that size, doesn’t mean it’s not fat.