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 have just gone into a size 16 (5” 8.5’ ) and I definitely feel it on me. Bloating doesn’t help either…

A woman who is 5'2 and a size 12 will look significantly fatter than a woman who is 5'7 and a size 16. So clothes size means nothing. I'm 5'7 and a 14 and although my legs look great, my belly is big - for me. I look best a healthy 10, when I reach skinny 10 range (loose fit) I look boney and gangly.

This. Even when I saw myself as slim I had to get size 16 tops due to big boobs. Looking back at photos I had a great body shape, looked really fit and was amazonian!
Just because the average size is 16 It doesn’t mean all size 16s are fat either! Disappointing post tbh. So anyone size 16 or over is fat.?! So much for being a supportive safe space. Let’s make people feel insecure shall we ?
Does anyone think that people under 5ft5 are really short? Anyone think anyone who wears glasses is boring? Does anyone think if you don’t wear Boden or have a swimming pool you’re a loser in life?
We can do better !

Thin end of fat. Fat end of thin.

Of course you did, a chat and need to post on MN to sit back an enjoy the response 😉

Yes a 16 is fat but not hugely so. Just a bit stocky looking but certainly not sylphlike

What a childish comment. Do you feel better for saying it?

It also depends on if you have bigger boobs? And sometimes sizing varies between stores/brands. I tend to be a 14 on the bottom half, sometimes a 12, and a 14 or sometimes a 16 on the top because my boobs are large! (This leads to a nightmare on packs of PJ'S etc) if my boobs were like fried eggs then no i might be a 12 or 14 on top...

It all depends on height -some one who's 5' tall and size 16 might look fat but someone who's 5'8'' and size 16 might look fabulous! It's all relative when I was size 16 (I'm 5'4'') I thought I was average!

But a size 16 is fat. It just is. Even if you’re 5 foot 8. It’s really unhealthy that we’ve been pushed the narrative that it isn’t. We’ve lost all perspective about what is a healthy body weight.

Its likely to be obese on someone under 5ft5 though so not just a bit stocky. I look stocky at a size 12 at 5ft4. I dont actually think people realise what overweight looks like any more. I am a size 10 when I am at the very top end of healthy BMI.

thats simply not true, maybe a 5ft woman a 12 and a 6ft woman a 16, but not at the heights you mentioned,

actualky edit to add, even at that height the shorter woman wouldn’t look fatter, maybe they’d look about the same,

I googled 'female bodybuilder' and this was the first image I got.

Now, if you look at her body, she has a small, rock-solid waist but due to muscle, her chest, shoulders and upper arms are enormous. She is not going to be fitting into size 10 clothes! It wouldn't surprise me if she needed an 18 to accommodate her upper body.

This is an extreme example and irrelevant to most women but just illustrating it's possible for a sportswoman to be large due to muscle.

Oh cmon, firstly thay woman has a tiny waist and clearly bulked out, it is hugely difficult to achieve and you seldom see a woman like that, I have no comprehension why you’d think this is in any way past a tiny minority,

Did you read my post, specifically the last line - This is an extreme example and irrelevant to most women but just illustrating it's possible for a sportswoman to be large due to muscle.

You have a very skewed view. Formed partly out of desire to perceive yourself as not that overweight. A size 16 is objectively fat. If you’re taller you will carry it better and so won’t look as fat as someone who is 5.2 but you are still fat.

it’s sad and unhealthy that people believe the falsehood that it’s not fat. It might be average (I’m not sure that’s true) but that just means many people are overweight.

We all know it’s possible

How very rude your post is OP.
A woman could be 5’10” tall, low body fat and fit as a fiddle and a size 16.
Or 5’0” and never moves off the couch and a size 16 and with a high percentage body fat.
But no. You just say 16 is fat.
Part of the problem IMO.

Can you still get Monster Munch? I haven’t had them since I was about 18 (when I was a size 6!)

The poster I quoted and to whom I was responding, didn't appear to:

Violese · Yesterday 20:43
Yada yada yada. What sort of sportsperson has muscle that fills a size 16 dress? That’s a 33-34 inch waist. Is this shot putters we’re talking about?

Your voting poll will not be accurate because the way you have worded the poll doesn't make sense. But yes a 16 is overweight.

I’m 5’7” and a size 14 and I’m overweight and fat. I’m reasonably fit and 58, but got hbp and am a stone and a half overweight.

Yes. They are far from nutritious and obviously highly processed but if you are counting calories, they are at the low end for crisp type snacks, at 98 calories for a standard bag, so easy to plan into a calorie count if they are your chosen indulgence.

Oh yes, my oldest had a monster themed birthday party a couple of years ago so I got the Monster Munch in!

Really fancy some now...

I hate these posts.

Its totally individual. Yes if 5ft. 1 and size 16 could be described as fat. But if closer to 6ft I would say it isn’t fat at all.