Do you think a women's size 16 is fat?

[LegencyMonsters]

Met a friend for coffee today and we got onto the topic of weight.

I mentioned that I used to be a size 16 and said I’m glad I’m not that size anymore as I was fat. She disagreed, saying a size 16 isn’t fat and pointed out that it’s actually the average size for women in the UK. I replied that while it may be the average, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not fat.

Would you consider a size 16 to be fat or not?

AIBU - YES - of course!
YANBU - NO - Not fat at all!

It is fat on 99% of women and I don't think it helps to deny it. I was a size 16..... I'm 5'6 and my BMI was 32 so not just a bit fat, but actually obese.

The problem is for years I didn't think I was fat and buried my head in the sand because it's easy to look around at other people and think you are average sized so everything is ok. But I wasn't healthy and looking back at photos...... I was most definitely fat.

It depends on your overall build. For me a size 16 would be fat but I know other women who are a 16 and carry it really well

Depends on your height. At 5' 6", when I was size 16 I was fat.

However, I have a size 16 dress from 25 years ago that is more the size of a 10-12 now. So 25 years ago, a size 16 was NOT fat.

Imagine how big a US (2 sizes bigger so their 16 is our 20) is!

Hmm when I was 68 kilos, around 11 stone I think, I was a size 16 and am 5.3
Everyone carries weight differently I guess

I'm 5 ft 6 and about 12 stone. I'm a 14-16 and I'm quite wobbly and fat, yes. BMI now in the overweight but before I lost a stone (was 16-18) I was in the obese BMT category.

I think I'm "fat" now, yeah for sure. But not massively so. Kind of normal/average 40 yo mum with a wobbly bum, chubby belly.

Surely it depends on your body type.

My friend is size 16 on top and size 8/10 on the bottoms - she’s slim but has big boobs. Shes also tall and has longer arms/torso.

My other friend is the opposite as she’s a size 8/10 on top and size 16 on the bottom, even though she’s slim and has a flat stomach but just has very wide hips that will not fit in jeans smaller than a size 16.

I have both big boobs and big hips/bum. No matter how ‘slim’ I am, my curves will not fit into things smaller than a 12 unless very stretchy.

At size 16 I would be technically overweight but I wouldn’t look massively overweight.

You are overweight at size 16 but not everyone else is.

its a frank discussion about size.

I'm size 12 bottom and size 16 because of my massive tits. I hate them and always have. I'm an apple shape so I've got skinny legs and bum. I have to buy 16 dresses because of my chest but I'm a 12s bottom. Even at a size 8 bottom I had a 14s chest. Family curse. So I'd say 16 isn't always a woman with a fat all over body.

This is an old article but relevant here. All these women weigh 11 stone but they are different sizes. In the main the taller women are smaller sizes, but interestingly, the 5'2 woman is a 14 while the 5'4 woman is an 18 - you can see the 5'4 woman has a broad chest and larger boobs, with narrow hips, whereas the 5'2 woman carries her weight on her hips. I am a similar build to the 5'4 woman and can attest to needing larger sizes for the 'top heavy' body type.

Why the bloody obsession with weight/size on here?
My weight is the least interesting thing about me.

I’m 5’10” and if I was a 16 I’d feel fat. I think we have a skewed perception of what is overweight in this country.

It doesn't really matter ultimately what other people consider you to be. I pre menopause was always a size 8/10.I rapidly got to size 14 during menopause,I was overweight if not visibly "fat" ,my friends/colleagues thought I didn't need to lose weight,possibly because being tall it doesn't show so much. I dieted and am now a size 12,I can live with that and it is quite nice having an arse that I never previously had.

Maybe your friend was a plus size model

I agree. Unless a woman is a 6ft 2 honed rugby player, she will more likely be ‘fat’ if she is wearing a size 16. Not sure the two six ft rugby players I’ve known were a size 16 either, though.

Currently I’m 8.5st, size 6/8. At my absolute heaviest years ago ( 5’4, 11.5st, size 12) I definitely looked fat. If I was a size 16 I would look utterly obese.

I honestly believe society has become so disillusioned by what we consider to be a healthy weight and size, and I think the whole body positivity brigade has played a huge role in that. People are so scared of offending that they pander to this notion that our current obesity crisis is normal.

I’d definitely consider myself fat at a size 16.
I am 5”6. I think I’d have to be 5”9+ to consider myself not fat at a size 16. Even then to be honest I think it would still be uncomfortable.

Yes, a size 16 is fat

She was 6 foot and bony. She had quite a manly build. Not just the height, but broad shoulders, and quite wide hips, even though her hip bones stuck out. I remember being at lunch with her and thinking her hands were huge - but still quite bony and angular. There was nothing remotely fat about her. ETA she definitely wouldn't have had the curvy look plus size models showcase.

Yes absolutely. My BMI just tipped into obese and I’m a size 12. Obviously there will be variations as we are not all the same but I’m bang on the average height for a woman

Sizing has changed. Sizes are much bigger. What was a size 12 30 years ago is now and around size 8-10. So size now is quite big. It's not necessarily fat but often is.

It really isn’t, it’s so that people can have a pop at anyone 16 or over whilst looking like it’s a discussion.

Saying size 16 is fat carries a fair bit of judgement. It’s not like saying ‘I think 5ft 7 is short’.!

.Sounds like my build and the same as every other model I worked with. None of us were skinny and size 16.

Maybe just don’t look at the tread if it’s bothering you. It’s a fact that most women will be carrying excess fat at a size 16. Fact isn’t judgement.

Hmm I’m 5ft 10 and weigh 70kg. I’m slim built but I have bigger boobs and a slight belly. I sometimes have to buy a size 16 in tops or dresses that button up. I’m definitely not fat. Dress sizes don’t mean much to me anymore. They’re far too inconsistent across shops and garment types. Doesn’t matter the number on the label. Either you’re overweight or you’re not.

I think this is true.

I’m 5’7” and have been morbidly obese the vast majority of my adult life, wearing up to a size 30. For the past year and a bit, I have been wearing a size 16. My weight has varied a bit, but not enough that I’ve needed to go back into an 18 or been able to go down to a 14.

My BMI is pretty much spot on 30 - so, yes, I’m still overweight/obese, and therefore fat. But lots of people who knew me before the weight loss say I look slim, and refuse to believe I could still afford to lose more weight. Whereas between me and the top of the normal BMI range there’s another 2.5 stone.