How big to be considered fat?

[Iamhappytobehappy]

On the tails of the many threads on fatness / obesity and how bad it’s perceived I have started to wonder how people see me.

I consider myself big-boned (yes I know but I swear I am!) 5.7 tall and a size 14/16.

I don’t think I look fat. I am not slim or skinny but not fat.

I have been a size 12 and people seemed more attracted to me but I was also 20 years younger so not sure being bigger is the only factor to take into account.

AIBU to feel those threads are not for me or Am I self deluded and everybody pities me and finds me ugly, hopeless and fat because I am over what is a healthy weight for my height?
I am very active and so quite muscly. Eat healthyly but would need to starve to be the same weight of 20 years ago!

Tell me when do you start considering someone fat?

If you don’t like BMI then just measure your waist. That will tell you if you are overweight pretty fast.
BMI is perfectly adequate for the majority of the population but if you don’t think it applies to you then measure your waist.

I'm 5' 2" and 9 stone 4lb. so a bit overweight

That is not overweight.

Well, personally I think anything above a size 12 is overweight. But, it does also depend on the person.
I don't think being fat is all of the horrible things you said but I do think a lot of women are deluded and think a size 14-16 is normal, when it's not

Well, personally I think anything above a size 12 is overweight

What is a Size 12 though? I am very tall at 5ft 11 and still wearing a Size 10 top.

I am overweight though.

Same size and height here too, I'm overweight yes but not fat (bmi of 26.2 to be precise). I'm trying to do more exercise to be healthy but otherwise I don't care (I've put on weight since I started running!)

I am fat 18/20 but I do not spend my days pining to be skinny. I am 5.2 about 14 stone, but in saying that I am also big boned so I do not look obese. i am confident in my weight, I guess I am lucky I have shapely legs, a nice peachy fat bum, and big boobies and a natural redhead.

I do not live off junk food unfortunately, we live a healthy life but i do not deny myself nice food. i do not have diabetes, high blood pressure or cholesterol.

I think it is all about your mindset, being obsessed with my weight only depressed me. My partner still finds me sexually and physically attractive and I do get looks when out and about. I do not flaunt it, I like to be comfortable but as said I am confident and do enjoy looking nice when out and about.

Well, personally I think anything above a size 12 is overweight.

For someone who is 5ft, yes probably. For someone who is 6ft, not necessarily.

I’m overweight. I am a size 14 and 5’6’

I tend to think of fat as obese. So clinically. I have been obese and I was fat (in my mind) I’ve never tiny as I don’t have a small frame

Whoever said bones have no size... Male and female bones are different sizes.. no? Age? Height? Humans can vary in bone size, feet, hands, femur etc. I am not petite but my daughters are very very petite (age 16, 5ft tall weighs about 7.5 stone size 3 feet)

"Whoever said bones have no size... Male and female bones are different sizes.. no? Age? Height? Humans can vary in bone size, feet, hands, femur etc. I am not petite but my daughters are very very petite (age 16, 5ft tall weighs about 7.5 stone size 3 feet)"

I do find it interesting that loads of posters here are apparently "naturally slim" and just cannot put weight on, but heaven forbid any suggests they are naturally on the heavy side...

I was really intrigued about the comment about frame size - I am big framed (no really) - I wear a size 10-11 shoes, can't buy bracelets, hats or gloves and I am 6'1. I mostly wear a size 16 and I weight 15'2 (definitely over weight) but fit (run half marathons)

I googled and found this site: medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/17182.htm

According to this, you look at your height and then your wrist size and it gives you your frame build - my wrist is 7.2 inches (and visibly boney) so finally validation that I have a large frame

I think it’s subjectve. I feel big atm but I doubt if anyone else would. I’m 5ft 3 and have a small frame. I like to be around 8 stone but I’m more like 8.7 so I’d like to shift that half a stone. I’m finding it really hard to get motivated though 😒

I have really fucking short legs too for my height. Size 6.5 feet, medium hands. 5’6, but need 28 inch Jeans otherwise they trail all over the place. In most shops it’s tall, regular or short and it isn’t fat that makes you taller or shorter is it 😂

Is that true about those with BMI 33+ not getting osteoporosis? Never heard that before.

‘Size 14 always overweight’ is interesting. As I said above, I’m often a size 14 top despite being 9 stone at 5’3, which is supposedly pretty well into the ‘correct’ weight range. I’m not even very busty, but smaller tops don’t fit across my shoulders with leeway to move my arms.

(Contemplates self in hulk-like gorgeousness)

coffeeagogo

Interesting!

I am 5ft 10.5 and am just hitting 6.25 inches. So medium. Possibly even small/medium, since I am well above 5ft 5. My shoe size is an 8.

Perhaps explains why I still look chubby unless I am at lowest end of BMI range.

Coffeagogo.. thank you!
My wrist is 7 inches... so I am on the large side.... feel a bit vindicated....

The old ‘muscle weighs more than fat’ thing again. What weighs more - a tonne of concrete or a tonne of bricks!?
Muscle is denser than fat, it’s not heavier than fat.

Ahoydelboy
More importantly muscle looks better than fat! And it’s healthier

What is classed as broad shouldered? Is there a particular measurement?

user59589098 - I agree. Vanity sizing is crazy. I tried on several size items in Next yesterday and they were all ridiculously big - probably a Topshop 10-12. Didn’t make me feel thin, just meant I didn’t buy anything.

^Next size 8

BMI is a large range. It is a very generous tool for gauging a healthy weight. I think we are now used to overweight being considered a healthy weight, and only recognize obesity as a problem. I think there is a certain amount of denial.

That's my excuse anyway, I always think if I was a few inches taller how much better I would look!

^^

On the coat tails of this I look taller when I'm thinner too.

This is such a difficult subject as any comments feel really personal. In my 20s I weighed just over 8 stone, went to the gym regularly and was probably at my "best" weight ever - I'm about 5' 1".
Then came childbirth, change of lifestyle and latterly the menopause and I suddenly realised how much heavier I was and that I really didn't feel comfortable any more. Having ranged between 8 and 9 st, I had crept up to 10 st. I found I was tripping over to the next size range in stores and had to acknowledge to myself that I was properly overweight. I looked fat.
I've managed to lose about 1 1/2 stones. I have to work to maintain it as I love cooking and eating. I'll never be like I was in my 20s; struggling to shift the midriff bulge but that's OK.
However, I do think it's really easy to not realise when we are fat because now the majority of the population is overweight, it has been normalised and it's easy to kid ourselves.