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?

How can 8 be 'slim to medium' and 6 be 'very skinny'? There is nothing 'medium' about a true 8, I would say a 10 is slim to medium depending on height. I myself am an 8 and sometimes a 10 and I am very slim indeed, though not skinny. People seem to have lost sight of what the baseline of normal is, and I don't mean that in the way it is normally meant on here.

What do you mean? As long as you use the same units for both measurements, it doesn’t matter.

I am 174cm tall, so I need to keep my waist under 87cm. I find with a waist size of 85cm my BMI is 24 and I’m a size 14 / 42, which I’m comfortable with.

I am 5,5 a size 12 on top and a 14 on bottom (trousers), I am not fat!

I am looking to lose weight but, this thread makes it seem like size 14 is huge.

Sizes have changed so much over the years. My mum was always a 14 and some of her dresses are 30 years old. They are more like a 10/12 these days

People have no idea what they are talking about, I wouldn't let it get to you.

@TheLeadbetterLife oh! I read it incorrectly as weight half of height rather than waist 😅

At your height I wouldn’t really say you were fat at a size 14 but definitely borderline, depends on the person as some people can carry extra weight well and there is an even distribution over their bodies but if you are very out of proportion in certain areas (belly /chest) it can look fat if for example you then have thin legs in comparison….very hard to tell without a photo

I am short, my BMI is 26 which is overweight. I am a size 14 on top (34gg) and 10/12 on the bottom. Apple shape - as runs in the family.
I'm also 50+ and absolutely can't be arsed to get het up about it.
Size 35 feet, I have been known to topple over!

The angle is so peculiar that it's impossible to see what you look like

I'm 5'8 and bmi 21.1, but generally wear 14 for big shoulders and fat belly.

If your waist measures more than half of your height you are overweight.
Some very short people are fat at size 12. Other taller people look great at size 14.
I have just bought a size 12 jumper from French Connection which is 'L' Large. 8 is small 10 is medium!.

If your waist measures more than half of your height you are overweight.

No, if your BMI is 25 to 25.9 you are overweight (obese if it's 30 or above). With some adaptations for other ethnicities. It's defined by BMI.

Read my earlier comments if you want to know. But I expect you don't. People really, really resist this and I truly don't know why. But it's true. Sorry.

As size 14 myself I’d say yes 100% size 14 is fat.

As you say it depends on your height etc. However, I would say 14 is probably overweight.
I'm fairly short and I was a size 10 I was overweight, I'm a size 8 and I need to reduce body fat and increase muscle mass currently I'm still slightly overweight or at least that ratio isn't healthy.

According with the BMI index I'm a stone overweight and I'm I size 10-12 small woman. Weight is always more noticeable in small people.
Body form also make a huge impact in the way we look, a sand clock type won't have that much on the belly and will carry some of the extra in the legs, hips/bum and breasts. An apple type usually got thin long legs so most of the volume will be in the breast and the belly.
A tall well structured build person will look ok with that size. Someone like me will look a bit too big.

BMI doesn't factor in muscle mass compared to fat.

True, but if you are one of the rare people who are so muscular they throw off BMI, then you'll know it. It's a fairly good tool for the mere mortals.

I'm 5'10" and hourglass shaped (when I'm not obese). At a size 14 I'm in the upper end of normal BMI range at 12-12.5 stone and look and feel good. I look even better at a size 12 though (more like 11.5 stone). But in a size 14, no I don't look or feel fat.
Currently size 18-20 and definitely fat, but even then with my height and shape it's quite deceiving when I've got clothes on. People are shocked at what my weight is.

I’m a size 14. And I’m fat.

When I was a size 14 I was fat. 5 foot 5 and 12 stone. My thighs rubbed and belly looked pregnant and my arse bumped in to everything I passed.
I've also been painfully thin and 7 stone and a size 6 thinking I was fat then, so maybe I'm not the right person to ask.
Currently a size 8 and 9 stone, feel fat but look in the mirror and I see skinny, so I'm happy with that.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is eat healthy and love yourself and don't worry about your figure, because it takes hold of you

I'm a size 14. 12.2st, 5ft 6, BMI 27. So overweight and yes I'd say I am fat. I've lost 20lbs since January and felt massive then. Getting down to 10st I'll be a comfy 12 and a healthy weight. 11st is below 25 BMI so no longer overweight but I'm definitely still chubby at 11st and in a stretchy 12

FFS this is all literally ridiculous. body shape and weight, and what it 'looks' like is quite largely dependent on someone's height and how weight is distributed.

You cannot universally say size 14 is fat. You cannot universally say that size 12 is 'average' or 'medium'.

Someone who is very short might look pretty overweight at a size 12. Look at female athletes who play football and rugby - some of them will be size 14 or even SHOCK HORROR a size 16. They will be infinitely fit and healthy and not 'fat' nor do they look it.

I weigh 68kg. This is slap bang in the middle of 'healthy weight range' BMI for my height and age. I wear size 14 trousers. Someone who is shorter than me, would look much larger than me at that weight. Someone who is taller would look slimmer. it's not rocket science. Whether I objectively look fat I dk. I know that I have also felt that I have looked fat from a very young age, largely because of people making comments like OMG size 12/14/16 so fat!

So, those who are, stop shaming people because of a clothes size. it's utterly ridiculous and purile.

Usually, yes 14 is fat. Most people underestimate how fat they really are because fat is the new normal.

The reality is when people think they're a bit soft or chubby, they're usually overweight or even obese.

But it depends on body shape and height. Someone with really big boobs and shoulders might not be fat. A very tall woman might even be somewhat slim at a size 14.

@NonPlayerCharacter not sure how you think I'm saying anything different from what you are saying? There is nothing controversial about BMI, it's a good measure of healthy weight for the bast majority of the population? What was I saying that didn't correspond to this? Dress sizes are a poor approximation, but the weight distribution in clothes sizes still follows a pattern. Even though it's shifted to the right over the years.