Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Dress size vs weight?

413 replies

Beth24 · 24/04/2011 09:24

A.I.B.U. To not understand this? - lots of people talk in terms of being a size 16 and that being overweight and others as size 16 as being a healthy weight. Some seem to say that they are maybe 15 stone and a size 16 - I don't understand the parity between weight and dress size that some people have? Do they chose the smallest size they can fit into? Do they declare their dress size as being the largest item they need to buy? Could u please tell me how you judge it - for example - I am 5'4" - 11 stone - I am pear shaped (big bum but smaller waist) skirts I buy size 14 sometimes a 16, tops size 14 (hate anything tight only arms) but trousers always have to be a 16 (sometimes an 18) so they are not tight on my bum and then usually with a belt to stop the waist gaping. I therefore declare myself to be 11 stone and a size 16. - is that right? By BMI I am overweight so from that point not healthy but only a bit (!) so am going to be personal and ask what is your height and weight and what dress size would you declare yourself to be?

OP posts:
headfairy · 25/04/2011 12:50

Agree it's bloody confusing, esp as women's sizing isn't standardized. Some shops have teeeny tiny sizes, others much more generous.

I'm 5'10
Weight 14st12
Size 16 (occasionally 18 for trousers, big hips)

daimbardiva · 25/04/2011 13:09

Muscle tone and general frame size also needs to be taken into account. I'm pregnant now, but beforehand I weighed 11 stone and I am 5'11". I was wearing size 12. The slimmest I've been was 9 3/4 stone, but even then I was only a 10. Size 8 is just to small for my frame size.

My best friend is 5'9", weighs about 13 stone and wears 14/16 and is by no means overweight

Bumblequeen · 25/04/2011 13:26

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at poster's request.

millskii · 25/04/2011 14:35

Before pregnancy (currently 29wks):
5'3
9st10
size 10

I feel like I am really heavy for my size. I'm small chested, pear shaped with a flat tummy. I'm quite petite, but I did a lot of swimming and horseriding as a child and teenager so I think I have a higher muscle mass. I'm fairly toned with no flab, so my heavy weight vs small size is a mystery both to me and my midwife!

Goodtobesilly · 26/05/2011 23:58

Am really glad I have read the messages on this board as they have made me feel much better about myself! I am 5"3 and weigh just under 11 stone, althouggh I am only a UK size 10 or small 12; sometimes I even wear a size 8! I am currently ten and a half weeks pregnant so some of the weight is water retention etc but I have always been a lot heavier than I look! I do a lot of exercise so am pretty toned. Even when I was a super skinny size 6 I stilled weighed 9 and a half stone. Used to feel really down about my weight but now realise it is just a number on the scales and that you should go by how your clothes fit and how you look and feel :- D

whackamole · 27/05/2011 00:06

I get what you mean.

When I was 9 stone 3 (the lowest I can remember) I was a size 8 waist but had hips and big boobs. My friend who was 8 stone 10, 2 inches taller was a size 10 but straight up and down.

I know it is a cop-out, but I genuinely feel that I have 'heavy bones' - I am only 5ft 5 but at 11 and a half stone I was still only a size 12, despite being overweight on BMI.

Now I am just fat. Although I'm pregnant so I'll give myself a small break Grin

LDNmummy · 27/05/2011 00:32

5.8" and a size 10/12 before pregnancy, depending on where I bought my clothes from. Shortly before pregnancy I was a definite 12 but have not gone over that before.

Im also 10 1/2 to 11 stone on average.

I tell people my average as I don't fluctuate much from what I have said.

As others have said, muscle weighs more than fat so lots of things to take into consideration.

A lot of people get an idea of what their size is from what they find fits them more often on the high street. The problem with that is that the high street is too varied in sizes provided.

NacMacFeegle · 27/05/2011 01:25

Before I lost weight, I was 15 stone 11, and a size 20 top and 16 bottom - 5'7. Currently about 11 stone, 16 top, 12 bottom (10 in River Island and Gap for some reason.)

I am aiming for 10 stone simply because I would like to wear a 14 top! Grin

burgerclub · 27/05/2011 02:07

5'7"
10 st 4lbs
size 12

burgerclub · 27/05/2011 02:14

Apparently muscle is 18% denser than fat.

Morloth · 27/05/2011 02:25

I am heavy for my size.

5'8"
75kgs (about 12 stone I think)
Size 10

But I workout a lot, and my favourite workout is weights.

Over the last year with babies and moving I actually lost weight but gained size, back to it now and everything has tightened up again.

VforViennetta · 27/05/2011 02:31

The last time I was weighed I was 16 stones, but I was heavily pregnant at the time. I'm probably that and more atm.

I wear 22 in bottom and top, but if I lost the tummy I'd probably be a much smaller size. I am so apple shaped it's ridiculous.

I see people much fatter than me wearing clothes that I would kill myself in.

It's much easier to be fat all over than to be apple shaped, I freaking hate it. If I could lose the belly I would be fine. Even when I was a child I still had a belly, I have never been slim in my life.

LDNmummy · 27/05/2011 02:32

Morloth you don't sound 'heavy' to me, actually sound really healthy, especially if you use weights. I tend to get to the larger end of my average weight level when I use weights to train.

Ah... missing the gym wierdly, never missed it before.

5DollarShake · 27/05/2011 02:34

I am 5'8"
72kg (11.4 stone)
Size 12. Well, size 10 in vanity-sizing stores, and sometimes a 14 in places like H&M and Zara.

I think everyone will be the same clothing size if they are around the same weight, even if their height varies wildly. So - 11 stoners will be a size 12, regardless if being, 9 stoners will be a size 8/10, etc, etc...

But the point is, someone who is 5'10" and a size 12 will look (and be) slim and in proportion, compared with someone who is 5' and a size 12.

This is why you can't say X size is 'fat' until you know more about the person's height. If they are very tall, then of course they're not fat as a lot of the weight is made up of their extra height, as opposed to them being overweight, IYSWIM.

Morloth · 27/05/2011 02:34

Lose the carbs Vienetta, you don't have to go crazy low carb, but I would bet a large amount of money that it is the carbs that are causing your apple shape.

VforViennetta · 27/05/2011 02:37

I am so going to Slimming World now though, I hate it, if I don't go i am sure to just get fatter, it's not good.

5DollarShake · 27/05/2011 02:38

See Morloth you're a couple of KG heavier than me and yet a size smaller than me - you're obviously really toned and slim, with the weight being made up of muscle rather than fat.

I am slim; definitely not fat, and yet I do have surplus fat on my body to lose. I'm fortunate that I'm tall and well-proportioned so it's only really noticeable when I'm slobbing out ill-postured.

VforViennetta · 27/05/2011 02:41

I do agree Morloth, I had gestational diabetes with my last child so had to cut down on carbs and what not. I came out of that pregnancy lighter than I went in.

I know what I need to do, the doing it thing is the hard part. Reading these types of thread though is very inspiring.

5DollarShake · 27/05/2011 02:49

I always used to rely on how my clothing felt to know if it was time to lose a bit of weight, but that never worked for me, since by the time you notice everything is really tight and you're having to go up a size when clothes shopping, you've actually gained quite a bit and have to put in a serious amount of work to lose it again. I used to yo-yo wildly when I relied on this method.

I know people say 'throw away the scales' but I find hopping on them every morning the best way to lose and maintain weight.

Lose - since as you see the weight gradually going down, it motivates you to continue, and maintain - because you an see if you're creeping up in the very early stages, and it's subsequently much easier to cut back for a few days rather than have to lose a fair amount once it's actually been gained.

TroubledPrincess · 27/05/2011 08:15

5ft 5 11 stone dress size 12/14. When I was 9 stone I was an 8.

cannydoit · 27/05/2011 08:45

5.7
16 stone
18 dress size

shortround · 27/05/2011 08:46

I am 5'4 and did weigh 9 stone 13. I am a size 12. my bmi is 24.3.

I actually weigh just a tad under that now, but our weighing scales is a bit whoopsie.

tyler80 · 27/05/2011 08:56

5dollarshake I disagree that a certain weight = a certain dress size

I have a couple of friends who are the same height as me, both weigh over a stone less but one is the same size and one is a size bigger. There's a huge amount of variation between body types which influence weight and dress size.

Pendeen · 27/05/2011 08:57

5 ft 2
9 stone
10 trousers and 12 tops (big boobs)

That's the easy part.

Dresses though, are a totally different matter.

I have 10s, 12s and even some 14s, and they all fit equally well!

Most dress designers seem to be schitzophrenic when it comes to the relationship between the top and the bottom.

Morloth · 27/05/2011 09:01

My BMI is 25.2 (according to an online calculator) which apparently means I am overweight. BMI IMO, is a crock of shit.