Is a size 14 viewed as overweight?

[Ilovemycatalot]

Just reading online that uk size 16 is the average size of a uk woman right now. Im a size 14 and 5ft 3 so always felt overweight anyway but in reality would you view someone as a size 14 overweight? For me anyone who can fit into a size 10 would be considered slim although I know clothes sizes come up different depending on shop. Just curious what dress size people on here buy and if they consider themselves overweight.

Well done @MsJuniper !

You must feel amazing to have achieved that and got your health back!

I’m 5’9 a size 14 and 11st12, and I’m just in the healthy bmi zone. I think I look ‘normal’ but quite ‘booby’. It really depends on height and body shape.

There are many, many people who aren't old enough to have sizing from 30 years ago as their internal reference point!

It's not about carrying it off, you're making it sounds like taller are somehow cheating.

I don't think dress sizes are anything to go by. Every brand is different, for a start.

It ought to be easy to look in the mirror, naked, and see if you are overweight, as well as using the BMI calculator as a rough guide.

If you are overweight, your arms, thighs and belly will be fat, unless you are athletic and it's all muscle.

Your face will be round and you may have a double chin and fat neck.

The guide for a healthy shape is your waist measurement. If it's too much you are storing visceral fat and at risk from heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.

So for someone 5 3" that's 63 inches. Your waist should be no more than half that - which is 31.5 inches.

@Legomania you've made me feel very old 🤣🤣

Yes! I saw an old photograph of myself in skinny jeans and have an incredibly weird triangle of daylight because of the pronounced thigh gap I used to have. I have absolutely no idea why anyone considers it desirable. It made me look like I had a torch in my crotch.

I'm 5'3 and slightly built overweight at a size 14 but my 5'9 broader built friend is a healthy BMI and definitely not overweight at a size 14.

I'm 5ft 3 and size 14 would be very overweight for me. I'm a size 8 but I have a small frame so i think it depends on your build. Size 14 for someone taller would probably be fine.

Some people are overweight at size 14 (I probably am when I'm one) and some aren't.

BMI is a very accurate measure of whether someone is overweight, unless the person's a professional bodybuilder or something.

@JuneBrowning very true about the waist thing. I'm going on a health kick at the moment as I am a healthy weight but I was shocked at my waist. I know bloating isn't helping but I feel if I can get my eating under control it'll sort out that part of me.

As someone 5 8", I looked great at size 14, in hindsight. I ran a marathon, did loads of other exercise, BUT absolutely hated my body because I felt fat.

Now, two kids later, at size 18, I find it hard to work up the motivation to do anything about it, as I just feel exactly the same self-loathing that I always have.

OP - my advice (which I should also take) is to eat lots of fruit and veg, get reasonably fit, and be happy with the results.

And if my waist doesn't go down I'll be seeing the GP!

I'm 5'7 and 9 stone 11 but my waist is 36 inches!!

Yes a 14 is definitely overweight. Especially today's size 14

I'm a size 10 now with a 26 inch waist and I'm 2 stone overweight

I think the average U.K. size is actually nearer the old size 20
Sizes have gone up over the years so what was considered a size 10 is now a size 4-6 what was considered a size 14 is now nearer the old size 18 mark.

I am now a size 14 if I go to buy clothes. I am definitely over weight .
My measurements are the old size 18.

I think if we measured ourselves and converted our dress size into the old sizing I think people would be shocked at what size they would be considered.

FWIW Dd is tall (BMI 18)
She looks slim, not underweight and eats well. She is the old size 10. 32” 22” 34” Mainly she buys in the childrens section now or size 4 if she can find it. But she still can’t get into some of my clothes that I wore in the 70s and 80s.

Weight is random also. At just under 10 stone I'm a solid 12. I need to be around 9 stone to be a small 10. I'm 5'3" also

A 26” waist was the old size 14
Which sort of proves my point about average size 16 is actually the old size 20

It depends what is meant by 'fat'. I think if overweight as fat. I'm 5'3" and a big 12, small 14 and I think I'm fat

Yes! I saw an old photograph of myself in skinny jeans and have an incredibly weird triangle of daylight because of the pronounced thigh gap I used to have. I have absolutely no idea why anyone considers it desirable.

Read some of the chub rub threads.

I know broad women with coat hanger shoulders who are skinny at size 14 and petit women who can pinch and inch or more at size 12.

It's not sound indicator, but BMI is problematic too.

I'm a 14 and 100% am overweight.

I'm 5ft 7" and a size 14. I'm most definitely overweight. I carry a lot of my weight around my middle and if I dress carefully I look kind of average (I think!) but I'm not under any illusions about the reality😅

I’m short, so when I can’t fit into a size 8 I look a bit flabby, and have a tummy.

I had a friend who was very tall and actually looked too thin when she went down to a 12. ( to the point where people worried about her). She is a very slim size 14.

Haha sorry @primeoflife ! If it's any consolation, I've started doing it to myself too