Is a size 14 fat?

[bubblebutt88]

I know it's dependent on the individual and a lot of variables - height etc but generally speaking would you say it's 'fat?' I am a size 14, I don't think I'm huge but I have a big roll of fat around my belly (thanks c-section and pizza) and I do feel like my face looks a bit bloated at times.

I'm certainly not thin or toned but I wouldn't say I'm obese either. I know id look and feel better if I dropped a dress size but at this time in my life with young kids, a demanding job and lots going on I just can't find the energy to focus on weight loss.

What are your thoughts?

But size 14 doesn't always equal obese or fat or overweight? That is what some I'm are taking offence at.

Hence why the caveat “for the vast majority of people” 🙄

Exactly Bungleandgeorge.

Anecdotal, totally. I am strong, healthy and a bit chubby since the moneopause and my thyroid gave in, and I stopped smoking. I hardly ever drink alcohol, so this helped. I walk loads, swim, have low cholesterol and low BP, eat very healthily but too large portions generally. Not making excuses.

At 59, I am the survivor of many of my childhood friends- all always stick thin, several smokers, a few exercise addicted. Lost them all last few years of cancers and other health disasters. And the rest are all falling apart, shrinking and with severe osteoporosis. Size 14 to 16- I am very heatlhy and with hopefully a very long healthy life ahead of me. Many of my friends in their 60s and early 70s a re the same. Would I like to be a size 12, or even 14- yes, of course. But I am even happier not putting so much pressure on myself to fit outside expectations- and especially from other women. My GP is stick thin and always tells me she'd like to be like me, confident and happy.

right but that’s not face on, not well lit - I can take an amazing photo of myself with control pants from above and look amazing (which you do): doesn’t mean I’m not overweight.

I guess it’s anecdotal but yes all the size 14s I know look pretty overweight.
16-18 is 100 percent obese category

10 or 12 medium

8 slim to medium

6 v skinny

@NonPlayerCharacter sorry I don't quite understand your comment. It's fairly well established that measurements of clothes have got bigger whilst retaining the same size label. So it's highly likely that the person those clothes labels fit will also be larger. Whether they're medically overweight seems therefore also more likely at smaller sizes than 50 years ago, depending a bit on the cut/style/age etc.

@Ws2210 Thank you!! I am a similar shape to you. Wide shoulders, wide hips. Can see and feel ribs, hip bones and collar bones. But I wear a 14.

I'm tall and skinny, size 6-8 but I wear have coats and shirts in my wardrobe that are Large/16-18. That's because im tall and need the added length.

I think on your average height woman, a size 14 is slightly bigger, moving into overweight. Is it some great shame? Im underweight at the moment. It is what it is.

I'm 175cm, weigh 75kg and am currently comfortable in a 'size 13': a 12 is a wee bit restrictive, a 14 a tiny bit too big.

I am naturally a bit of a chonk: taller than average with long limbs, big hands and feet, broad shoulders and hips and not much of a natural waist. I build muscle easily and don't carry much 'obvious' fat (although I admit my tummy is not as flat as it used to be).

I'm a bit above my fighting weight of 70-72kg, but happy enough and my waist to hip ratio doesn't cause me or my doctor any concern, so all good ATM.

I'm just over 5ft8 and size 14 and I'm not fat but at top end of my healthy BMI but also do lots of weights too so quite a bit of muscle/tone..

Size 14 generally now correlates to a 32 inch waist in most high street shops, and this size waist is the upper end of “healthy” for women. I’m 168cm and definitely fat when I’m in a size 14, whereas in the 1990s of my teens, size 14 was just a little bit chubby but relatively normal. Vanity sizing had deceived us into thinking we’re slimmer than we are, I think!

I understand there is correlation with weight and clothing size. But ive never really understood why clothing size is so commonly used in the UK.

To answer the question. I'm obese and wear size 14-16

It’s very dependent in height. My cousin is 5 ‘11 and I was very surprised to learn that she wore a 14 in jeans, because she looked really slim and more like an 8-10.

But if you’re five foot, of course it will
look much heavier.

I was obese when I was a size 14, but I’m 5’2” and fine boned. You’re a lot taller than me, and may be big boned. A roll of fat around your middle does indicate some excess weight, but not necessarily loads.

Dress sizes have changed so much, it makes them meaningless for figuring if one is chubby. And that’s even before allowing for the fact that different shops size differently! In the 1970’s a size 8 was a 22” waist; in the 90s it was a 24” waist; in some places it’s now a 30” waist.

Sorry, but ridiculous. 8 = medium :(

Some bodies are distorted, and some minds and perceptions too, it seems.

Exactly this. Height, shoulder width, back width, bust size, waist size and hip size will all affect what clothes size you wear, not just weight. And that's without even considering how sizes differ between shops. So this whole discussion is quite silly.
BTW you look great and very slim.

I’m a 12-14 by modern fit standards, and am short and stocky.
However, when I knit from old patterns, my size is definitely classed as Large or sometimes XL.
I think the modern 14 is the old 16.

In which units?

I wish I was your shape! Same waist measurement, but it’s straight not curved. I am basically the shape of an oblong - and if I put any weight on it just goes to my stomach. Whereas I have a close family member who is like you, and even at a size 18 she has a teeny waist and just incredible curves. It’s not fair!

Some bodies are distorted, and some minds and perceptions too, it seems.

Wait, some bodies are distorted?

Same here. I would be huge at a size 14 at 5ft 2. Everyone carries weight differently depending on height and shape.
Imo, generally size 14 is not that big.

People are taking this so personally. There will of course be outliers to the norm. That's why the majority of posters have said that it obviously doesn't mean EVERYONE at a 14 is fat. But actually quite a large proportion of people at that size are.
It also depends where you shop. An H&M 14 vs an M&S 14 are very different.
Of course it depends on each persons particular body shape. Eg boobs, hips etc. But on average, a 14 is a bigger size.
I am an 8 on top. Sometimes a 6 depending on the style of top/the shop etc. But that's because I have no boobs. I know I'm not ACTUALLY a 6 and I'm not v v skinny (just using a pp list of what sizes equate to)

I'm 5'1 so a size 14 on my frame would be overweight. But on my 5'6 friend? She'd probably look great

It is for me. 5.3, size 14 and I'm definitely fat. Dieting at the moment as I'm not at all healthy