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!

I disagree. I’m a 5’’4” size 12 and while I look fine in clothes I am a bit flabby. There is excess fat now and I’d probably have to put two stones on to be a true size 16, and that would all be even more flab.

Look at all the ‘big boned’ people who have taken weight loss drugs and miraculously halved their body weight.

There is no such thing as a fat skeleton.

what on earth does it matter?

I am not sure people are saying they are though, in shops now, very few size 16s are small, its a relatively big size. Its irrelevant what sizes were 50 years ago, I have work trousers from 20 yrs ago still and they are no different to current sizes.

The bit I was referring to is someone of 5ft 2 not possibly being fat at a size 12, this just isn't true. Its a big size for many short people.

Agreed! It's a parallel universe isn't it @Blossomtoes

Some of the posts on here are actually not just bonkers and madness, they are disturbing and worrying. People stating that being a size 12 (at a height of 5 ft 2") is 'significantly overweight' is a new level of batshit.

Has anyone said 'we've lost sight of what a healthy weight is' yet? 😆

Enough already!

Its a big size for many short people.

It is now with vanity sizing, it certainly wasn’t once. As I said before Twiggy was a size 10 and she was as thin as her name suggested.

It depends on how tall you are. I’m 5’3” and would be obese at a size 16 (according to BMI) so objectively fat.

I am not sure this is totally true, my closest friend is only an inch taller than me but is a lot heavier, she is so slim though. She has thicker set ankles and wrists, her shoulders are broader, she is also pear shaped whereas I have tiny ankles/wrists and legs. I weigh less but she is definitely slimmer and always has been.

But, you are right about people who have said they are big boned etc, the BMI range is big for a reason as it does account for different body types (within reason) most people over a BMI of 25 are overweight and look it IMO.

That is true, but its not really relevant now as we havent had normal sizing for many years. I would say getting on for 30 years now, maybe more?

I was fat at a size 14 and 5 foot 8. Few pounds into overweight BMI and my family and friends were telling me I was fat! Size 16 I definitely would be.

I disagree. Sizing has been ridiculous for about ten years now. And it’s got even more ludicrous since oversize clothes came into fashion. I have garments labelled ten in my wardrobe that fit and if you could see the size of my arse you’d know how crazy that is!

But if that's the case then a size 16 now will definitely be fat.

I think you missed the point. I was being pedantic. A size 16 cannot be fat, the person on it can be.

FWIW I'm 5'6", a size 14, BMI 26. I'm two stone heavier than I was 35 years ago when I got married. I struggle to keep weight off and have since I was early 40s. I would love to lose a stone but it would mean, for me, eating very little. I like food and it's the price I pay for it. Even when I was two stone lighter, I was still broad shouldered and wide hipped. Even in my mid 20s when I was 7st12lb, rather more than two stone lighter, (not good), an M&S 10 was tight on the hips whilst baggy at the waist.

Yes

Yes
given that the average woman’s height is around 5ft 3 -5 ft 5
then a size 16 would be fat probably being obese on BMI scale.

You were unreasonable if this woman is a size 16 or larger or perhaps even if she is close to that. However yes a size 16 is on the larger size to me. I'm a size ten and have at least half a stone to lose.

It depends on the person. Only once have I been a size 14-16 and I did NOT carry it well and looked very, very fat. I am 170cm so not short but it's just where the weight goes maybe? I dont know. I wouldnt feel happy to be that size again. I look best as a 10-12.

I'm 5'7" and a size 12/14 UK and I'm definitely fat.

At 5 foot 7 I was definitely overweight and uncomfortable in a size 16.

Size 16 is fairly average for British women,
depending upon age, build and height. I think calling a fairly average size for women fat is rude, unhelpful and sexist. The BMI charts were invented in the 1950s in U S A, and have been shown over and over again to be sexist, outdated and pointless.

That it’s the average size doesn’t mean it isn’t fat. The average person can indeed be fat.

BMI isn’t outdated nor pointless. It works very well for the vast majority of people.

BMI isn’t outdated nor pointless

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/publications/health-matters/is-bmi-accurate

I'm not going to use the "fat" word because it comes loaded with negative judgements. But I am 5'5 and I would definitely be overweight (maybe obese) at a size 16. I think you have to be very tall and muscular to have a healthy BMI at a size 16 and few women in the general population have that physique.

You just did…

Yep! I mean, you’re both right, it’s is average and also fat (I am a size 16. I’m not, like, so fat that people stop and point in the street or anything but.. I am overweight).

I am a size 8 and consider myself fat.
It depends on how you see flesh.