to presume that overweight people must have very developed calf and thigh muscles?

[NettJarrp]

OK, I am unreasonable, but I've never understood why someone who has a lot of weight to carry around doesn't have larger than average muscles in their legs.

If someone went up a flight of stairs carrying several stones' additional weight strapped to their body, it wouldn't take long for their muscles to get bigger.

So, why doesn't this happen to overweight folk?

NOT a fat-bashing thread AT ALL.

I have skinny legs and a tiny bum with well toned thighs and calves - and a shit load of fat on top. So in my case, i do!!

not a fat bashing thread

< eat loads of these and find out

I've done heavy free weights in the past and now I'm obese because of illness.

It's because of the way/amount muscles are used, then the usual nutrition (it's difficult to build up muscle as a Woman) and genetics.

If you think of farm workers, gardeners (E.g. Charlie Dimmock) they are described as 'strapping' and do have more muscle tone in the parts they use regularly. I've worked with big Women who do a lot manually and you can't see the muscle under the fat, but they are strong.

There's too much variation in 'overweight' to answer that.

In other news some people carry a lot of weight on their fat head
eat another of these and find out

No, it's not a fat-bashing thread. I am overweight, have been obese at times, and I, too, wonder about it.

With all the excess I carry about, I should have stonking legs. But the fatter I get, the weaker I get.

It doesn't work that way. Carrying excess weight will still render you with the various ills of being overweight - (different for different people). Fat is not muscle. Nor can you turn fat into muscle by walking up and down stairs in a typical day-to-day routine. Carrying excess weight is not in fact weight training (by any stretch of the meaning) and weight distributes itself differently depending on your build.

In short: nope. An overweight person will not suddenly become Hercules because they walk up the stairs every day.

Forgot to add - nutrition has a lot more to do with it. An overweight person be it through ill health will therefore not have the opportunity to 'train' themselves or an overweight person through too many BigMacs equally won't have the requisite deficit to counter fat vs muscle.

Well, I've been 13 stone since I was 13 (was 15 stone before this pregnancy) and I have great, very muscular legs, thanks! Sooooo yeah.

They probably do, but it's hidden...

I'm not sure I'm over weight particularly - 10 stone something - but I do a lot of heavy gardening and that kind of thing. I think my legs are fair.y muscular and my arms because of that more than the fact that I am 10 stone not 8 stone.

Most people who are really properly fat don't move much on the whole so they are not going to be carrying all that fat around enough to develop muscles hefting it from place to place.

I am very overweight and do have very developed calves compared to when I was younger and lighter.

So not a fat bashing thread.

Ive always been big with huge calves and these have only gotten bigger as ive gotten bigger! Then again I try and do as much walking/shopping carrying exercise as I can which probably adds to them.

Wow OP - in what way isn't it a fat bashing thread? But it's okay because all your fellow fat bashers are turning up now.

My legs and ass are 3 sizes smaller than my top - where does that fit into your theory?

I'm obese, and I have big calf muscles, thighs not quite as big. I do walk every day, and cart a toddler up and down stairs regularly too, which is probably why. No one would ever know though, I live in jeans.

I am obese and do have big calf and thigh muscles, but I've always had them, always been a walker. I'm very inactive now due to illness and I miss the walking, and have put weight on. The last time I was this big (about four years ago, then I lost about 3 stone) , I could still happily yomp ten or twelve miles and frquently would. These days I hobble everywhere. :(

I have really strong legs and (over) developed calves, I actually think it is the weight of of leg muscles that tips me into overweight territory

Interesting. Thanks everyone.

Until recently I mistakenly thought that unused muscles turned to fat. I'm really not very biologically aware!

Troll-seekers, thanks for the biscuits. I'll have a nice brew with them.

I'm overweight, and I've got legs like a carthorse. A carthorse with a fake tan and a pedicure, but still.

I agree with Ruby, I am not overweight but have huuuuuge calf muscles which brings my weight up massively! I think I would lose about 7 stone if I chopped a calf off.

I'm quite a few stone overweight and have large calf muscles. I don't think being obese has had anything to do with this as I could never fit into 'normal' size riding boots, even when I was 16 and a 'normal' weight. I have always had good thigh and bum muscles.

I carry all my flab on my waist, chest and arms. I can also run 10k in 1h20, so I think I'm fairly fit. Just fat.

They weren't troll seeking, they were offended by your seemingly nasty, fat bashing OP. HTH

I'm honestly not sure how muscular my legs are under all the fat. I don't feel as tho they are particularly strong. My thighs are pretty solid, not sure if that's because they're muscly or the fat is just packed in really tight

As a fat person, I don't feel bashed by this question. It's a fairly reasonable one actually.

If you started the thread because you wanted to know what happens to muscles and fat, there's a lovely new thing called Google. Very informative and you don't risk annoying p pile