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!

The point is that it's not the measure. It's totally irrelevant. Doctors don't ask your dress size when checking your weight or body fat percentage.

No, you are missing the point. The point is that dress size is a totally arbitrary thing and entirely irrelevant to the question of whether someone is medically overweight or visibly "fat" (itself somewhat subjective; remember Kate Winslet being derided as fat in Titanic?).

Are you fat if you're a size 16? Impossible to say. Totally irrelevant metric for what is somewhat a subjective judgement anyway. If anyone actually cared about health or body fat they'd use the medical metrics for that. We're going with dress size because it's about vanity and how we feel, not anything objective, measurable and definable.

On average taller people have a bigger frame overall, broader shoulders etc so will need a bigger size of clothing without carrying fat. That’s the relevance of height. A 5’1 person at size 16 is likely to be obese, a 5’7 person will on average be in the overweight range but not obese at 6’ the person is likely to be within the healthy range. It’s too simplistic to say size 16 is fat. There are also a few muscular people of mid range height and tall people with slight frames who are not typical but do exist.

Yes of course it’s fat. But then a size 20 that got down to a 16 would think they were slim. It’s all the fat promoting that’s made her feel this way. I feel fat at size 12. I like being a size ten, I still have a bit of fat on my body but I would not like to go lower.

Ok you find it impossible to say and I understand this, but most people on the thread do not find it impossible, a waist size for a 16 is standard as a 34 - 36 inch, yes some smaller some bigger, but generally at an average of 35 inch waist most women are overweight,

again, I understand you find it impossible, and that’s ok. Others don’t.

I'm 5 foot 10 and on me, a size 16 would be overweight, yes.

I have been a size 16 before when I was pregnant and I had definitely put on more weight than I intended to.

Usually and currently I am a size 10.

Yes it’s fat. It’s only average because most people are overweight now

waist size for a 16 is standard as a 34 - 36 inch

It used to be 30 according to the chart posted upthread. Before the menopause stole my waist I was such an hourglass it was almost a caricature, nothing that fitted on the waist would go anywhere near my hips and if it fitted my hips I could get both hands in the waistband. Hence I was literally two different sizes.

The thing about averages is that they are just….. average. Not necessarily healthy.

A size 16 is the most frequently bought size in the UK. That could mean that size 16 women buy a lot more clothes than smaller or larger women, but probably means that it is the most common size of woman in the UK.

The average BMI for women in my age group (55-64) is 28.8 - overweight, and nearer to obese than to healthy.

1% are underweight
30% healthy weight
34% are overweight
29% are obese excluding morbidly obese
6% are morbidly obese

These are not - or, should not be - moral or aesthetic judgements. It should be about what these levels of excess body fat are doing to people’s health (physical and mental) and general well-being. I know it, I’ve lived it. And let me tell you, life in a size 16 at the cusp of overweight and obese is one hell of a lot better than being morbidly obese and size 30. Despite still being fat.

Would I like to have a healthy BMI and wear a size 12? Course I would. I’d also like to have a flat tummy and flawless skin. And while I’m about it, win the lottery. Meanwhile, let’s deal with reality. I am vastly healthier and more comfortable than I used to be. And I’m still fat. But my doctor isn’t berating me about not having lost more. He’s congratulating me on what I’ve done and encouraging me to maintain the lifestyle change so that it stays off.

I was definitely fat when I was a size 14. I’m an 8 now and there’s a huge difference

At 5'2", nine stone and usually a 12 I'd be fat if I needed a 16

I don't know how they work out what the average size is in the UK - 16 seems high.

I'd say 12 and 14 are the most common sizes - in shop end of season sales there are often a few 10s and loads of 16 plus

A 16 is fat, especially today with vanity sizing, a 16 today is a 18/20 25 years ago. I can fit into a size 6 in Next with room to spare, I was a size 10 when I was a teen over 25 years ago and I am the exact same shape/weight. I haven't changed size at all yet I'm now considered "skinny" (I'm normal weight and very healthy). Size 16 was always big, but it's even bigger today, but as everyone has gotten fatter being bigger is normalised and people lose sight of what a normal healthy weight/size looks like. So yes it absolutely is fat but I'm sure people will be along to say "well most women are a size 16, it's just normal".

At a size 16 (and some tops were an 18 because of my broad shoulders) and 5’7 I was 16 stone and had a BMI of 35.

I just don't know how someone that size fits into a 16.

Im 5ft 7, 12stone, bmi 26 & would wear a 14/16. Surely everything would be incredibly tight?!

people lose sight of what a normal healthy weight/size looks like.

I’m astonished it took 18 pages for this gem to appear. 😂

I'm 5'11'' and was always size 6-8

Where are you from?

I’m 5’8” and even as a skinny teen would never have fitted a size 6. I wore size 10 or 12 then. Mind you it was 40 years ago now so obviously the sizes have changed. I don’t think size 6 was even regularly available? The smallest I saw then was an 8.

It varies. Could be fat, could be muscle, could just be a big frame. I met someone last night who claimed to be a size 18 but didn't look fat at all.

I’m currently size 16 I’m 5 ft 2 and I’ve overweight and very overweight.

I am a (tall) size 16 and I am overweight. I feel fat.
The UK sizes are so generous now, I'd think unless you were incredibly tall with a wide bone structure, anything above 12 is realistically overweight.

Agree. It just depends on how tall the woman is. I am 165 cm (5 ft 5) and would be fat at size 16. I am overweight at size 14. It's perfectly possible for some women to be a healthy weight at size 16 though.

Agree. It just depends on how tall the woman is.

It's not just that though. I'm 5'10" and a size 16 would be big on me. I am naturally tall and slim with a smallish frame so when I have reached a size 16 it was definitely because I was overweight

I think a lot of people judge their size based on elasticated or unfitted clothing. In reality that's often stretching beyond what its supposed to.

Try a pair of tailored trousers, without stretch or elasticated waist. The size you really are is the size of these that you can do up comfortably without straining the buttons etc.

i am the opposite, 5ft 10 and huge shoulders/wrists etc and I don’t think I have ever been smaller than a size 12 since I was a child

I get you. I suppose my point is- you cant make sweeping generalisations.

It's very individual. I know very petite women who are really tiny and very petite women who are very big boned and "sturdy" looking so much depends on frame as well

It appears so often because it's true.

If this thread was about the colour of grass, you'd find a lot of people saying it's green.

Everyone carries fat and weight differently.

I am 5ft 3 and 75kg or so. I'm a size 12 in most things, although depending on fit (e.g. fitted dresses etc), I may need to size up as I prefer having roomier clothes.

I have a friend who is the same BMI as me, similar height and weight, but she is a size 16. Most of her weight has stayed on her tummy, where as mine is more evenly distributed down my whole body.

We are both "overweight", but she looks bigger, and its all to do with weight distribution etc.

I try not to dwell too much on weight, clothes size etc and focus more on my happiness.

My goal is to lose around a stone or so, but I am not desperate to lose it - it will eventually through steps and eating healthily.