Aibu to think as you get older being a bit fatter looks better?

[ywllowcomercio]

Im 5’6, weighed between 7.5-8stone until I hit mid thirties. Now I’m 40, I think I look awful under 8.5 stone, and actively have to work to keep my weight up to avoid looking gaunt and older.
aibu to think being excessively thin makes you look old and haggard? Also I love having tits again 😂 never had any until I was pregnant the first time ha

I totally agree. I'm five eight and for the first time in my life, I weigh more than nine stone. At first I was a bit taken aback and thought I should fix it, but I actually think being a bit fuller suits me quite well. I am 43 and I had noticed last year that my face was looking a tad gaunt, and it has softened down a bit and I think I look younger and prettier. I wouldn't like to gain a great deal more, but I am happy as I am.

I think being very thin can be ageing and being overweight can also be ageing. There's definitely a sweet spot, that varies for each person.

Well you were mostly underweight before, so it makes sense you'd look better heavier, no matter what age you are!

I tend to look best around 25-26 bmi as I’m quite muscly and have a gaunt face. Any slimmer I look unwell.

Same. I am 5"0 and had always been very slim. Naturally a 4/6 rather than anything nefarious. After about age 38, and my children were getting bigger I suddenly felt seld conscious about being so slim so I've worked at building some muscle and maintaining a size 8/10 and I feel a lot more in place rather than the smallest and skinniest everywhere I go. I find clothes aimed at my age group fit better. My face isn't dropping either and the few lines I'd developed before I put on weight have stayed static at age 43... yet. I expect it will catch up sooner or later.

Also fashions change. When I was teens to early 20s, it was fashionable to have the short bob and be very skinny, its all curves and long hair now. The young women I know aren't super skinny and all have ultra long flowing hair.

Yup. ‘Face or figure’ my plump but gorgeous grandma used to say.

You were underweight by a fair bit before with a BMI of between 17 and 18. Hardly surprising you look better having put a little on but you are only just into healthy weight at 8 and a half stone.

I am 5'7 and 9st 6 and wear size 8. So based on that, I can only assume that you were quite underweight before (by conventional standards anyway). So yes, I can totally see how having more weight on you looks better regardless of your age. However, there is a more important factor that you also need to move better, have better muscle and bone health as time goes on and being underweight puts you at risk of frailty, sarcopenia and osteoporosis. So it's less about looks for me, as I age and more about keeping my body strong into older age.

Most people think that being “a bit fatter” is more attractive than being very slim. But people who like being very slim don’t typically do it to be attractive, it’s probably because they’re into fashion, and clothes fit better when you’re thin. At 5ft6 and 8.5 stone though you’re on the slimmer side of healthy, which is what most people agree is the peak zone for sexual attractiveness, if that’s important to you.

It looks better to be a healthy weight; not gaunt and not overweight. I'm 5.7 and weigh around 9 stone. If I go under that my face immediately looks awful- like 15 years older.

@ywllowcomercio oh just saw that you were underweight before 5.6 and 7.5-8 st. At 40 you can't be underweight without looking miserable and gaunt in your face. No need to be overweight though- just healthy weight. Do you have an eating disorder?

As a man in his late 50s yes people of both sexes look better with fuller faces. Skinny women look scrawny over about 50 with tendons and muscles showing under loser skin

On some people, to some people.

I would rather be very slim and look my age/older, than be even slightly fatter and look more youthful. Just personal preference.

How old are you? I can understand feeling that way up to about your mid thirties, for sure.

So how do skinny men look?

Being underweight makes you look older from 20s up in my opinion.

I've (40+) recently unintentionally lost a few pounds (still within my BMI range but near the bottom), ironically as a result of hitting the gym to try to get a bit more muscle and it has definitely come off my face. I am considering trying to gain a bit back. On the plus side my body looks good!

I don't care about weight. Toned is the measurement for me on people. Slim with muscle definition, not body builder definition, just that nice sculptured look. It works for me at all heights.

It very much depends on the individual, how they carry their weight, whether their face does fill out when heavier etc - not everyone's does. No hard and fast rule - I think as long as your weight is within the healthy range for your height, you should try to maintain the weight at which you look and feel your best in your own judgement.

I don’t necessarily think being fatter helps (and your version of fatter is still far lighter than average for your height) but being a healthy weight and eating nutritious foods helps, and exercising too- good circulation and muscle definition definitely helps with looking good/healthy.

I think being healthy looks better on people no matter their age. So having a healthy bmi, being fit, eating well, drinking lots of water.

My friend is rather obsessivs about her weight so stays very lean. She is now in her early 50s but looks 10 years older, and has got osteoporosis. Shes also had a huge number of injuries in recent years from falls etc, her knees are knackered.

Sadly she's from an upbringing where women appreciating food or eating any more than a tiny portion was openly viewed as disgusting, and believes woman should essentially remain the size of a trim 15 year old throughout life.

Not good - DH father is too thin & looks a decade older than he is.

My GP told me that for post menopausal women it’s better for your bones, to carry a bit of extra weight.

I'm late 60s and always being told i don't look It when people find out, in fact some are totally shocked..........i say its the fat, it plumps out the wrinkles!🤷
In actual fact I think a lot is just genetics, I remember my gran and mother never really appeared wrinkly well into their 80s.