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!

im slightly under 5ft 6 and a size 16 is definitely obese for me.

Im well aware that it’s the average dress size is 16 but also that around 62% of the adult population is overweight or obese. In other words the average person is a fat fucker (holding my hand up here)

According to Google, 'Recent data indicates that approximately 60-61% of women in England are classified as either overweight or obese.' So a size 16 might be the average size for women in the UK, but the majority of women in the UK are overweight.

I'm 6 foot, I'd definitely be fat as a size 16. I'm a 12 currently and have rolls, slightly overweight.

A size 16 is a certain size of garment. But you can surely see the difference between a 5' 1" woman who needed that size to accommodate her 35 inch waist and a 5' 9" woman who needed it to accommodate hers? The second woman would have a waist size far more proportionate to her frame than the first.

BMI is a ridiculous measure and only relevant for sedentary people.

I understand height matters but personally I'd say a size 16 is fat.

However according to BMI I am obese. I'm 5'2" and weight 75kg yet wear a size 10-12. I am very muscular and active so I honestly think BMI is a joke.

I view fat as a subjective judgement (usually pejorative) that isn't necessarily the same as overweight. So the answer is it simply it depends what you personally think fat looks like. There are some people who think anyone over a size 8 is a fat woman (but don't apply the same judgement to men). There are others who don't view someone as fat unless they are obese.

If you're asking whether a size 16 is overweight, then the answer is that it depends on height.

I have 34 g breasts so I have to take size 16 for these. I am 12 to 14 in trousers. I am 54 years old and weigh 10 and a half stone at 5ft 5 inches. Even when I was a teenager and 8 stone I took size 14 in tops on account of my breasts.

I'm a size 10-12 (14-16 in old money!) and BMI hovers around the 25 mark. At current day 16 I'd definitely be fat.

What would be unreasonable would be to judge whether someone is fat based on their clothes size. They are not standardised so can clearly vary between shops, and different eras of clothing, with vintage things being smaller. Then there’s height. Someone who is 5ft 10 and a size 16 is likely not overweight, someone who is 5ft is likely to be overweight at around that size. Then there’s also build, with someone who is more hourglass likely to be a bigger size than someone who is straight up and down, whilst not being any fatter.

It’s not a joke it’s a rule of thumb for the “average” person. You say you are very muscular which isn’t average. So not useful to you. But it’s a useful guide for most people.

It’s likely that most women who are a size 16 are in the top of the overweight or bottom of the obese range of BMI. Today’s size 16 is a lot smaller than a 1980’s 16 as well. I’m a 12-14 and consider myself to be fat.

I'm size 16, 34J, 10st 12, 5ft 5 and I'm just on the cusp of going into normal BMI range and I feel fat!

Yep

Disclaimer: I'm not size 16 right now.

But size 16 isn't especially fat on me - tall, broad framed and muscular all in one. I can probably pinch an inch or two at that size, but wouldn't call myself fat, even though I'd need to lose weight.

Fat to me is when the fat changes your shape rather than adds to your shape, if that makes sense?

It's not a technical definition like overweight or obese.

I was a size 16 before MJ. I thought I didn’t look or feel that big. Now I’m an 8 or 6. Lost 5.5 stone. I look at my old photos and yes, I was and did look “fat.” My BMI was 31. I’m 5”5. Yes, I “carried” it well, but I wasn’t healthy.

On a BMI scale yes its likely fat. I say that as a size 16 who knows they are clinically overweight.

However would i look at a size 16 and think shes fat - no i wouldn't - but if i was a size 8 all my life then I probably would consider a person that size fat.

On a BMI scale yes its likely fat. I say that as a size 16 who knows they are clinically overweight.

However would i look at a size 16 and think shes fat - no i wouldn't - but if i was a size 8 all my life then I probably would consider a person that size fat.

Most people size 16 will be fat - I was a 16 after dtds were born and bmi was obese not just overweight. How people look and how fat they look will vary depending on where that weight sits. I’m hour glass so as long as I emphasise my waist I don’t think I look as fat as I am but if I was an apple shape, it sits differently and looks more “obviously” fat.

It’s fat. Not massively but definitely fat.

Most (not all) will be overweight - or "fat" if you must - at a size 16.

It is the national average clothing size for women.

The average person on the street is overweight. 64% of the population is either obese or overweight.

I’m a 16, I’m overweight but not obese. Define fat?

This.

Just because it’s the average size does not mean it’s a healthy weight.

I am on the shorter side (5ft3) and a size 16 would definitely be very overweight for me.

It's out of date though and not average at all.

As ever it depends on your frame, muscle mass and height etc

But having lost alot of weight and now in a size 16, am delighted if still a few pounds to go

Overweight.

But saying that. I’m mid point on the scale of healthy weight, if I move towards the top of scale of a healthy weight and my current clothes don’t fit me I’d be fat but still in the healthy range.