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!

Well it's a ridiculous measure since size 16 women come in all heights and shapes and carry it differently. Some look fat at that size, some don't at all.

The measure of whether you're fat is BMI plus muscle/fat ratio measuring (BMI is a bit of a blunt tool but it's fairly accurate for most of us; if you really are so muscular that it's worthless, you're not fat). But that's a measure of fat, not beauty, attractiveness or likeability.

It really depends who says it. Somebody who used weight loss injections it would be gross.

Not necessarily. I'm a size 16 and tall, but skinny. It's my bone width (hips, shoulders) that means I literally cannot fit into size 14. I don't have good muscle tone. My BMI is 19.5.

I wonder what % of women are body builders or 6' tall though. I'm average height and a size 12, my bmi is at the top end of healthy. It's hard to imagine many people at all aren't overweight at a size 16

This, but also because taller women can also have broader frames. A lot of people either don't like calling themselves broad framed, or get a lot of snark about "big bones" so use tall as a proxy for that.

For example my shoulder width is 2" above the top of the average range for women, my handspan is 1" larger, my wrists are .5" above the top of a broad frame. I'm tall, so I don't look massively disproportionate, but women's clothes often fit poorly.

Also, things like boob size aren't exactly a fat issue, but can change the fit of clothes. I find that men's tops can fit my shoulders and accommodate boobs better, and cover my hips.

When I was a size 16, I was definitely fat. My BMI was in the overweight range, verging on obese.

A clothes size has nothing directly to do with fat. People come in different sizes widths and heights.

One of my best mates says she's a size 16 and she doesn't look fat to me. I didn't believe her when she told me. But she's the kind of person who thinks she's bigger than she is and probably buys sizes bigger than she needs.

Both of you are BU to use dress size as a measure of anything other than whether a specific item fits you, since it varies wildly. And also because height is a thing!

I was obese at size 16.

I have a healthy bmi and am size 8 now.

I think it depends on your build. Size 16 on me is fat, I am 5'2 with a small frame, however on my mother who is 5'7 with much larger bones is a healthy weight at a size 16.

It would be for me at 5ft 8. I've fluctuated up and down by 1.5 stone over the years. At my heaviest I'm flabby, rounded face, muffin top when sat down etc and that's at size 12 so a 16 for me would be around 3st overweight.

I'm too short to be a size 16 without being overweight. But also, boobs. I am a size 14-16 on top and a 12 on bottom thanks to very large boobs so I can imagine women who are not fat at all needing a 16 across the bust in a fitted top.

Im 5'6" and definitely fat at a size 16. Very average amongst my peers but still fat.

I’m probably taller than 99.99% of women and I’d say I’d look fat at size 16. I think it’s somewhat of a subjective term though.

I agree that perceptions of it are height dependent. Obviously a 28in waist is a 28in waist no matter what height the person is, but what that looks like is going to be different. I remember reading an interview with Nicola Coughlan where she said everyone was surprised she was only a size 10 or 12 or whatever because she looks bigger but it's because she's mega short.

I am 5'10 and I personally think that Size 16 is the point where I start being treated like a fat person. At Size 14 I remember being described as "one of those people who is not fat but not thin". At a 12 and below people would call me slim. I know this wouldn't be the case for everyone. Everyone carries their weight differently though.

I am 5 ft 1 and was a 16. My BMI was 38 so yes!

I am 5ft 8 and my bmi is 26/27 and I am a 12/14. When I was a 16 I was closer to a BMI of 30 so yes definitely overweight for me. I think under a 12 is what I need to be not fat.

Erm...why?

I’m 5’ 6” and an M&S 12-14 , which is definitely vanity sizing and I’m fat.

I used to convince myself I wasn't fat at a 16, I look at pictures now and yes, I was fat.

My face is round, I had a thick neck and chin, my arms were big, even my ankles were thick.

People on here actually said Nicola wasn’t fat because she was a size 10, when she is very obviously carrying a lot of extra fat.

I guess it depends on body composition such as height, muscle, shape etc. For me, it would be fat. Anything over uk 10 and I'm feeling uncomfortable. However, too thin, and I look gaunt, have to balance face and body at 39, so bmi no less than 22.

It completely depends on the person’s build. Someone can be small and have quite a lot of fat, another person could be bigger and have very little fat.

At 5ft 1 yes I was fat at a size 16. I look a bit fat at anything over a 10.