how fat is fat?

Question

i talk to women on my block all the time. all of them say they are fat. even skinny ones think they should lose some weight. so how big is too big. when is a person really what we call fat?

please dont preach about the body index crap.

Answer 1

when you feel that you cannot wear the clothes you usually wear, when your weight increased, when you observed you're eating too much than usual, when you are hard up in doing usual things (like getting up from bed too fast, walking a little distance speedily, etc.)...YOUR FAT!

Answer 2

Some people already discussed body index measures and you asked that people NOT use that as a response...so hear is a different perspective. A person perceives themselves as fat based on context...so, a body builder may see themselves as fat even though they are thinner and have less body fat than most Americans/what is recommended. The women on your block all probably share to a large extent the same view. That view probably is "You can never be too thin (or too rich)." That view is reinforced by our media and how most men give attention to women. Sadly, women are play a part in their own victimization. They compare themselves to others and often focus on outward appearances vs other qualities that are as important if not more so.

Answer 3

The easiest measure to determine if a person is overweight
(or at risk for heart disease) is to determine a person's BMI
or Body Mass Index which is :

BMI= (wt (in lbs)/height (in inches) squared ) *703.
there are tables for 'normal BMI" based on age
but the average BMI for an adult should not be over 30 for girls
and 35 for boys.

People have also measured "skin-fold" thicknesses but these are harder to measure and standardize

look at this website

http://www.consumer.gov/weightloss/bmi.htm

Answer 4

I think America is crazy!!! And I'm an American. People are too obsessed with skinny. I am 5'8, 147 lbs, and I am trying to GAIN weight. I hate bone! I'm not boney but I know it's close to the surface. If someone is naturally skinny that is ok. But if not... don't get skinny, be proud of your body.

Answer 5

To determine if you are fat, you must go to a Dr. and get a body mass index. This will tell you how much fat you have on your body and what would be a good amount to lose.

Answer 6

You are too fat when YOU feel uncomfortable in your own skin. I knew I needed to lose some weight when i couldnt fit in my clothes and when I went to by new ones I was shocked and embarrased by what size I had to buy.. so off my fat butt went to the gym.

But really..fat is whatever the person thinks. If they can walk around thinking they are sexy as all get out, then they are. If you cant walk around without worry about if your gut is sticking out, or if your thighs are rubbing together, then you are too fat for you.

Answer 7

I think you answered your own question...everyone thinks something different! Women tend to think they are "fat" way more often than they should. What is important is that people are staying healthy! Not every one was made to be skinny!

Here is a great site that got their "baseline" weights by polling other women in that age range, you can at least see what they say.

Answer 8

first of all when someone is actually skinny and tells u they think they are fat, they actually know they are not fat and they just want to hear it from u so u would say somethin like "are you kidding me ur not fat at all, if anything u should gain a few pounds". well anyways they know they skinny they just want to hear from someone too to make them feel better. fat is big mama fat. fat is for a woman i'd say anything over 150 lbs.

Answer 9

Technically, someone with a BMI of 25.0–29.9 is overweight, whereas you must have a BMI of 30+ to be considered obese.

The best, and normal range for a healthy weight is a BMI of 18.5–24.9.

So, if you're a woman who is 5'6", you're tecnically overweight if you're 155-185lbs, and obese at 186+.

Answer 10

When a person has more than 30% body fat. HTH.