to ask if size 14-16 at almost 5'8 is "fat"?

[CoolToned]

Is it?

I agree that it depends on how you are you your weight. I look awful at anything above a 10. I carry all my weight on my belly and face and so when I gain weight I look pregnant and dumpy and clothes (even in a bigger size) don't hang nicely on me. Size 16 for me is obese. I have been nearly a 20 in the past, 8/10 is where I am now and I'm not happy above that.

That's me & I consider myself as "fat" it's just not a size I feel comfortable at. It's my biggest & I need to get it in control ASAP

I'm 5ft10 and and I'm a 14 and I would say I'm chubby

I think size 14-16 at any height would be described as chubby rather than fat. A size 14 isn't slim that's for sure I don't think anyway

A size 8-10 is slim , size 12 average

It really depends on the person.

I am 5'5 and a size 14; would like to lose weight, but wouldn't say I'm 'fat' as I'm pretty toned, with a flat stomach etc. But I am about a stone overweight according to charts.

The important point is whether you are comfortable at your size and weight, and whether you are healthy.

I think that word "fat" is very much related to how you feel about yourself rather than your true weight or dress size. Before kids I was a size 8/10, I'm now a size 12/14... I know I don't wear weight well. I'm quite short and once (when I was actually a size 10!) my own Grandmother said "you're getting a bit chubby"... The cow!
PS I think you look fine and you should only change if YOU feel you need to. Seriously, other people's opinion about YOUR body are irrelevant

I'm slightly shorter than you Op at 5ft6 but I certainly felt overweight at a 14-16, had a stomach that got in the way when I bent over etc. I feel much healthier now at a 10/12.

I think society's view of size is often inaccurate as bigger becomes the norm but isn't necessarily what is good for our health.

I'm a size 10, 5'7 and weigh about 9st 4lbs

I had my body fat measured last week and even though I've lost 4 I'm now at 31% which puts mr in the 'overweight' category slightly.
However my BMI is fine

So I suppose it depends on how you're measuring and what guidelines you are using (eg in next or m&s I could be a size 6:8 in h&m im a 12)

FWIW I think you probably are a little overweight but not enough to worry about it if you're happy

I think it's a bit bigger than is ideal yes, anything over a 12 is but at 5' 8" you could probably still wear what you wanted and look fine in it and carry the weight quite well in terms of proportion.

The shorter you are the harder it is to look good in anything once you are a size 14 or bigger.

It depends on if you mean standard sizing eg 34.5" bust or vanity sizing eg 40" bust. If you are going on modern clothes sizes you are almost definitely overweight to some degree. If you are not then I apologise. I think as a society we have gotten so used to seeing overweight people our view of normal has been warped.

I am 5 7 and a 12/14. Even though I am a quite toned curvy hourglass (32F/30 inch waist, 41 inch hips) I am currently a bit podgy and if I got to the size where 12s were always too small and 14s were sometimes a bit tight and I had to sometimes get a 16, so what I would class as 14/16, then I would definitely be too fat.

It's not just a body image/vanity thing, it's an excess body fat around the middle thing, which is known to be unhealthy.

Most women unless very tall (5 10+) would be fat/overweight at 14/16. Obvious caveats for bodybuilder type athletes etc.

I don't think 5 8 is particularly tall any more. I am 42 and think that women have got noticeably taller over the past 20/30 years.

I reached my adult height in my early teens and used to really notice any women that were taller than me because I saw hardly any. But now there are loads of women that are quite a bit taller than me, that I am now probably at the upper end of average.

OP I doubt you look objectively fat or bad at 5ft8 and a 14-16. It depends on where you buy your clothes and how you wear them. It also depends on your shape- I have a 12-14 hourglass shape (at 5ft4) have a BMI a bit into the overweight category (losing at the moment!) but a waist circumference of 28 inches and a waist:hip ratio of 0.65 (so very large hips).

I want to lose weight to feel better in clothes etc, but with my small waist/wide hips I'm probably not going to have trouble due to bring slightly overweight. If more Apple shaped/larger waist it's probably more of an issue.

Although my own view called be warped because most of the people I work with are underweight and I'm constantly feeding them build up drinks!

I'm 5ft 11 and a 14, I don't feel fat but I feel 'large'. I have a slim waist, small chest, toned arms/shoulders and my weight is around my thighs.

But is it all about weight/size? I don't think so. I work out, run, swim, eat a healthy diet and don't have any health issues, am in proportion and have a nice shape, IMO.

There is no such thing as a definition of 'fat'. It can't be objectively pinned down. The only thing that matters is whether you feel fat, and whether you are technically overweight, because everything else is just guff.

I wonder if blokes rip one another to shreds over weight/clothing size in quite the vicious way that seems to crop up on here.

Fat shaming seems to be a particularly female thing, on here it's often dressed up as faux concern about the poster's health/strain on the NHS, as that prevents anyone saying "actually you're a nasty, bullying cunt". Then if someone loses weight she's too skinny, needs a decent meal, men like "real women".

Basically, women should be as ashamed of their bodies as possible at all times.

It would be for me. I am 5'8", weigh just under 9st (when not pg!) and wear size 8 usually, sometimes 10 depending on shops. I've got a small frame, little wrists etc, and this looks "right" on me. When I've been ill and gone down to 8st5 I looked pretty frail and gaunt though.

We're all different though. I generally have no boobs to speak of so am very small on top, if I had a generous bust then obv I would need to go up a size or so to fit them in!

I'm 5 ft 7 1/2... At a size 14-16 I'm about 2 stones over the top healthy BMI weight. (I've been various weights) so unless you're really busty or muscly it's pretty unlikely you're a healthy weight.

OP I am just under 5'8", size 14-16 and BMI of 26.5.

I would say I am "visibly overweight" but not "fat" (slightly kidding myself maybe!). I'm on a diet and exercise programme to help get back to my happy place (size 12). Like you, most people 'don't believe' I'm a size 16/as overweight as I am because it sort of hides in my height/my tummy isn't too bad. However, I also I know that I look considerably nicer in my clothes at 10-20lbs lighter.

Hi everyone!

I think I need to clear up something - I know I am overweight, but "fat" - is that considered fat? But yes, I feel fat and I don't like how I look anymore. Wish me luck! I'm going to rid myself of this weight.

I know it's not the pint of the thread, but you look fantastic in that dress Twll

Why does it matter?

Are you happy with how you feel? Bugger anyone else.

I prefer to be on the slim side. I don't carry weight well, it all goes to my stomach and I become pot bellied and feel bloated. I don't carry weight on my thighs or bum, so for that reason I keep to a size 10. I am 5' 6".

I carry weight on my face, arms and tummy too. That's why it's very noticeable.

Well, this is the problem, isn't it? It's an issue of terminology.

To me, 'overweight' = 'fat'.

It doesn't mean you are a massive, unattractive, unfit heifer, which is the way some are taking it.

I always thought fat was just a rude and unpleasant way to say overweight.

I was shocked last month when I put my weight into a BMI thingy.

I'm 5'2" and my weight was 9st 8. That shows as in the healthy range but if I put on another 3lbs I'd be classed as "overweight"! I can honesstly say that I know my stomach is a bit fat, but the rest of me isn't.

So I think many people, including myself have a skewed view of what is fat.

I'm currently on a diet because I don't want to be overweight. I want to be healthy!