To think a UK size 16-18 is not curvy but fat?

[GymGirl23]

Yes I know some will probably flame me for using the word fat but I'm concerned about some family members. The Mum is 5ft 4" with 3 daughters aged betwen 18 and 22 who are all a similar height. She and the eldest both take medication for High BP and the other 2 daughters are also heading that way.

The Mum said a while ago that it was 'great' they could swap clothes as they're all now a size 16-18! What bugs me is they are totally clueless about health topics and diet and the Mum has fed the girls crap diets all of their lives high in salt, fat and sugar. Even when they cook at home it's high in fat and sugar with huge portions! The worst part is she buries her head in the sand saying they're luckily not a fat family but are all just curvy girls and that it runs in the family along with High BP! The fact is they are all FAT and it's self inflicted and unfair on themselves. The girls are huge now with double chins and have no waists but hey they take great care with makeup, tan, hair and nails so that makes it OK then? Why can't they see what they're doing to themselves? My Mum says I shouldn't offer them advice as they get very offended if anyone ever suggested they were even slightly overweight but I would like to help them as I know alot about nutrition and keeping fit.

Are people who are that size truly happy with how they look and feel and do they believe they're not fat but have curves instead?

[GinDaddyRedux]

I didn't get "they don't deserve it" from her post.

I think somewhere in the mildly provocative and slightly punchy language, is an interesting argument around how makeup, Instagram effects, etc have become the go-to for huge swathes of people, above and beyond basic fitness and being in a positive relationship with weight and food.

But like you said, is it her place to say any of this?! I think not.

[TheCanterburyWhales]

It's a shame that threads about the obesity problem in the UK always seem to degenerate into a slanging match. Because it is a massive problem and it causes incredible problems both on individuals and the NHS.
That's a fact. And whatever the causes, we do ourselves and our children no favours by pretending it's OK.
And, as I said upthread, I speak as someone with about 3 stone to shed. I know I'm not as healthy as I was before I became overweight. I know I don't look as good in my size 18 as I did in my 12 or even 14.

Leaving out the OP, whose aims in starting the thread may or may not have been altruistic.

It's plain disingenuous to say that being overweight is fine.

[SpongeBobJudgeyPants]

Canterbury you are right about the wider obesity debate. However, the OP hasn't approached it from that angle at all, just a mean-spirited body shaming one, not very well disguised as 'concern'

[AMemeByAnyOtherName]

@TheCanterburyWhales none of this is about altruism (if that even exists), even a good old virtue signalling post would have been better received than this bunch of drivel. I actually haven't seen many posts on this thread, if any, that suggest that being overweight is fine. I personally am a huge advocate for maintaining a healthy weight, I proudly dropped several dress sizes in my early 20s and have remained a size 8/10 ever since. I didn't make the decision to do that because some random told me I had too many chins for makeup.

When you report this post, make sure you mention that I have offended your fundamental beliefs or somehow been bigoted, that should yield better results.

[Yeahnahmum]

Big boned doesn't exist and yes they are fat especially at their height.

But it looks like they wouldn't be open to disscuss it. So don't bring it up unless they do and then come with great tips

[squiffyseesaw]

Pertinent to this thread


twitter.com/marthedeferrer/status/1270629125506637825?s=21

[SomethingOnce]

Big boned doesn't exist

I’m big boned. I genuinely do have a chunky skeleton, clear from wrist measurement. My DD, otoh, has fine bones from the paternal line. At matched height (and assuming same muscle mass) she would be ‘fatter’ than me at any given weight.

[DorsetCamping]

Well said @TheCanterburyWhales

[duletty]

@SomethingOnce

Big boned doesn't exist

I’m big boned. I genuinely do have a chunky skeleton, clear from wrist measurement. My DD, otoh, has fine bones from the paternal line. At matched height (and assuming same muscle mass) she would be ‘fatter’ than me at any given weight.

Husband and I have different frames.2 out of our 3 look like him, slim/willowy.one looks like me, East German shot putter. We have same physical life style/diet. There is definitely a sturdy gene versus the wispy version

[Wauden]

The UK has a terrible obesity problem which accounts for heart problems, diabetes and depression.

[ArtieFufkinPolymerRecords]

Husband and I have different frames.2 out of our 3 look like him, slim/willowy.one looks like me, East German shot putter. We have same physical life style/diet. There is definitely a sturdy gene versus the wispy version

We can acknowledge that some people have more slight or broader builds, but you can be either of those builds and not have any excess fat on you.

[Sweetlikecoca]

@Wauden

The UK has a terrible obesity problem which accounts for heart problems, diabetes and depression.

It’s true. People would rather bury their heads in the sand. I say this as someone who is not skinny by any means. There’s no point dressing up a size 16/18 to be okay for a young girl at 5ft 4. No matter how well you dress or carry your weight.

It is what it is. This is not a competition that we should be like well she’s a size 12 and smokes but she who is a size 16 doesn’t sunbathe all day.

Honestly I’ve heard it all now

[TheSingingKettle49]

So I’m 5’10” a 16-18 and large build, and I’m overweight, at a 14 I’d be curvy and at a 10 I look emaciated.

However, this family are none of your concern and you should not offer them any advice.

[Msmcc1212]

debategraph.org/Handler.ashx?path=ROOT%252fu23%252fObesity_System_Map.JPG

Not sure if this link will work but it’s a diagram that shows the various factors implicated in the development of obesity. They are MANY, with various relationships between each causal factor. If the link doesn’t work google ‘obesity causes diagram’.

It’s a HUGELY complex issue and not as simple as personal choice. Judging and shaming are never helpful.

We all could be healthier or could work on ourselves in differing ways. No one is perfect.

As well as support for individuals there needs to be a wholesale change in how food is manufactured, marketed and sold. It can’t be left up to individuals when the food industry has such weakly regulated but immensely powerful tools at its disposal.

[Msmcc1212]

The link works but you can’t read the labels but it still illustrates the immensely complex causal factors implicated.