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!

85kg, BMI 25.4, so slightly overweight, as I said. Which feels heavy to me as pre-pregnancy I was 72kg and considered myself fairly slim.

Most women would be fat at a size 16. Just because it may be the average size, it doesn’t mean women of that size are not carrying excess fat.

Yes it's fat. Of course these days with obesity being fairly common,I guess size 16 is the new slim.

I think it depends on the person and shape, fitness and frame but likely most people will be overweight at a size 16.

I was like 14 stone (at 5'7") when I was a size 16 and even though I am quite muscly I still felt far too heavy for me.

Exercising now in the gym at 11 stone odd and mostly in size 10s there is just so much less strain on my heart.

Can someone explain to me how someone taller would be a bigger clothes size as I can't get my head round that. E.g. size 28 inch waist is usually a size 10. Buying 28 jeans fit a 28 waist no matter what the height- you might need longer length or petite but surely if you go to a size 16 and a 34 inch waist it will be too big for you even if you are 6ft, if your waist measures 28in?

Im a size 16 and im definitely fat.

I imagine a supermodel with a boob job is probably a size 16 crop top but not fat.
I am 5’2 and size 6 normal bmi of 19 and would be enormous at a size 16.

At 5”10 size 16, I was a bit chunky but definitely not fat. When I was super skinny and had a flat stomach I was a size 12. My hips are going to be wider than a woman who is 5”1 yet the size clothing we fit into are measured the same.

It depends on BMI. But unless a woman is tall then size "16" is fat. Probably obese if it's vanity sizing. Some old size 20s are a modern 16 (Next and M&S I'm looking at you).

A size 16 is fat regardless of height.

The labels in my wardrobe range from 10 to 16 and they all fit. The 10s are modern vanity sizes and the 16s are vintage clothes when sizes were a true reflection of size. Dress size is completely meaningless as an indicator of fatness or otherwise.

Size 16 is fat I think. However im 5 4 and bmi 26 and M&S size 16 is still the only size I fit in jeans. Their sizing is weird at the moment.

Yes, factually a size 16 is probably fat. Being fat is not a character flaw or the end of the world, nor should it mean you’re treated as sub-human. However 16 (for most people) will be ‘fat’ and bigger than they should naturally be.

I say that as someone who is currently a size 18 (post-partum) and therefore ‘fat’, I’m also still 10 stone lighter than my heaviest weight, and I’ve also been a size 10.
Weight/ being fat doesn’t define me, and being a bit fat (or a lot fat) isnt a reflection on who I am as a person or of my self worth. We all know it’s healthier to not have excess fat, it’s not news to anyone.

16 is the average size, but that probably just means we’re all a bit bigger than we should be naturally for optimum health. That’s ok.

I’m 169cm, 89kg and size 16. I’m overweight (possibly obese by BMI) and definitely look like I’m carrying too much weight. I don’t see myself as fat, as such, but objectively I am.

Someone tall would still be a size 10 if they have size 10 measurements.

They might be more likely to have a larger waist measurement and still be in a healthy range though because of the height to waist ratio.

An average height woman at size 16 is fat, yes

I agree. Everyone saying it depends on your height is wrong. Dress size is irrelevant.

11 stone when you’re 5 foot 1 is overweight, but if you’re 5 foot 10, then you’ll be much slimmer in stature. So I can see why weight is dependent on height but not dress size.

Yes

Im 6ft and a size 14/16 my bmi is 23.8, i don't feel particularly fat 🤷‍♀️

68kg, and I was eating 1300 kcal per day, an hour in the gym 6 days per week, swimming for 40 mins 5 times per week and badminton 4 times per week. Borderline low thyroid function

It is height dependent, but I wouldn’t say a size 16 is fat. Not thin, either, but not fat. Larger end of normal, maybe?

Of course it’s fat unless you are super toned and it’s all muscle. Everyone is kidding themselves that because 16 is the average size it’s healthy, it’s really really not.

You mucked up you AIBU so I chose the wrong one

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.
YABU

@FeelingALittleWoozyHere taller people tend to have bigger skeletons as they aren't just stretched out vertically compared to someone shorter, their skeletons are proportionately larger, so it is less likely that someone who is 6ft has a 28 in waist. So, you can be a size 16 due to simply having a larger scale skeleton rather than carrying too much body fat.

Dont see how you were wearing a size 16 at all then