How do we define Fat?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-07-2003
How do we define Fat?
14
Mon, 10-01-2007 - 5:35am

And I am not referring to the biological term, I am talking about when we look at ourselves or others, what would be considered fat? Is a BMI above 25 fat or above 29? I am just confused as to where the line between average and fat is I am curious as to what others think. I personally think that I am not necessary fat, but could lose a few but am sure someone else would call me fat if in an argument (my bmi is 23.8).

So what about you ladies?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-07-2003
Tue, 10-02-2007 - 1:26pm

I think it's interesting that some of us use BMI and others go by how they feel. I think defining body shape is such a cultural thing and it's been good to see how other "normal" feel. I do agree that hollywood standards are unrealistic, but at the same time wonder if the average is not getting bigger and bigger. Have we started to accept higher weights as a way of tolerating what is happening all around us? Meaning, we now see size 14's as the average, where as I recall size 10's being such? This is why I am confused as to how one defines being Fat as it appears to change so much.

It's funny lately people have been commenting on how weight I have lost. Ironically I have only lost about 10pds since they saw me last June; where as a total of my weight reduction has been 38pds. At a certain weight point, the weight really makes a difference, and black jeans are great for showing it off :). I was told I looked like a stick! I think he's going a little nutty in the head cuz I still have my curves. I would not classify myself as thin, healthy maybe but sure as heck not thin. And if I looked at someone else my size I would hopefully think the same thing.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-29-2005
Tue, 10-02-2007 - 7:06pm
I do find it interesting that while "star" standards are getting thinner, the standards for the rest of the world are getting bigger...
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-04-2003
Wed, 10-03-2007 - 11:01am

This is insteresting - over on the online dating boards a while ago we were talking about this. On the online profiles you can check off what your body type is - average, a few extra pounds, slim, fit, muscular, curvy, overweight.


And it was interesting to hear what the men had to say and what the women had to say. I mean the average north american is a few pounds overweight - so does that mean you should check off "Average" if you are a few pounds overweight? And does that mean if you are considered overweight you should be checking "A few Extra Pounds"?


And it turns out on one of the site that one of the options was "Curvy", which the men all said equated to overweight to them - which I found appalling, but informative.


I do find it sad that rather than really addressing the problems of an overweight nation, we are now building everything bigger - bus seats, theatre seats, plane seats, to accomodate what is in reality a serious health issue.


iVillage Member
Registered: 05-07-2003
Wed, 10-03-2007 - 4:01pm

That's horrible! I mean women are meant to have curves - thats how one can tell we are women! Otherwise, you get told you have the figure of a man. We were watching a movie tonight and the protagonist was stick thin; my bf thought the movie directors, etc, wanted the attress to be thin since she was portraying a teenager, when in reality she's in her 20's. I replied that actually that is the hollywood norm and thus why women who look like Britney Spears in HW are considered fat. His reply - well some people are morons! Yeah I think I am going to keep my man. :) He's a by the numbers guy, if I have a healthy bmi, then he's can't say a word..."as long as you are healthy that's all that matters."

I do think it's sad that we are "accepting" larger waistlines, but then haven't we always accepted social standards for the norm. I agree, we need to address the problem insteand of applying vanity sizing to our jeans.

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