Size Zero debate?

Question

What are your opinions?

But first of all i would like to point out that "size zero" is the USA size, so that would make a British size 4.

I am 15, 5'5", size 8-10, perfectly healthy, i eat normal food and do some exercise.

However, i do none of this to be skinny, i do it to be healthy, though one particular big girl at school gives me problems about it, telling other people that i am anorexic. When people pointed out that i eat like a horse, she then told them i was bulimic.

I agree that some models are too thin, but there is also an obesity problem.

Females complain that they are being pressured into being thin, but if you look in mags now, they are now on about curvy being best, and condemning thin girls, forgetting that some are naturally slim. I now feel ashamed about my figure, which i was previously proud of.

The aim should be to be healthy, not curvy or thin.

Attractiveness should be about being confident in your own body, without slagging off others.

Answer 1

i think you've understood what matters, and congratulations for that, not everyone your age can be as level-headed as you are...

i'm thin myself, and i'm always worried people will think i'm anorexic, i suffer from ibs and that means i sometimes have to rush to the loo after a meal, which is slightly embarassing.

it's true that some of us are naturally thin, what really annoys me is celebrities who pretend they are, when obviously they're not (like nicole ritchie or victoria beckham).

as you said, the aim should be healhtiness. well done, and keep up the good work :)
x

Answer 2

I am 27 and I would guess a size 0 - I am going to the States this year so I guess I'll find out for sure. I am not obsessed with food - well, only to the point I get laughed at by my work colleagues for constantly eating. I try to eat healthily but do not obsess and love the odd Maccy D's or pizza. I do confess I don't exercise like a should - perhaps this year? :-)

I measure approx 30 - 24 - 33 and am 5ft 5in. My weight tends between 7 - 7.5 stone but I don't own any scales so I only get weighed if I am in someone elses house or at the docs.

I am sick and tired of being made to feel like I should be ashamed of wearing small sizes, yes, I can fit into kids clothes but so what? they are tax free and cheaper so if I can, why not? My bones don't stick out and I have never dieted. My mum and grandma have exactly the same build. Now when I go shopping I feel that I am being judged for just buying the clothes that fit me.

The other thing is that the average UK woman size has increased so some stores cut clothes larger to compensate, a size 10 in Topshop today is deff not the same cut as 10 years ago. In the past few years I have gone from wearing size 8 (when they were the smallest size in the shop) to size 6, 4 or even kids. - if I'd lost that much weight I'd be non-existant!

Yes, of course there are people out there who need help but not every slim (or what some would call skinny) person has a weight obsession.

Answer 3

Size 0 is actually more like a UK size 6 in most places and the shops that do stock a size 4 have just replaced the size 6's and moved the rest of the sizes up one!

Size 0 measurements are 31-23-33 to 32-24-34, which is fine if you are naturally very small framed and that is the way you are built, but I agree it is very unhealthy to starve yourself down to such a small size, and it will not look attractive at all. Your body looks best at the weight and size you feel most comfortable.

I'm a size 10-12 on top and a size 12-14 on the bottom. I reckon if I really starved myself I could reach a size 6 on top, but there is no way I could ever be less than a size 8-10 on the bottom because I have wide hip bones.

Please don't let some bully intimidate you. Remember you are beautiful and that no one can make you feel inferior unless you let them.

Take care : )

Answer 4

Giving thin people a hard time is as bad as giving fat people a hard time. It all comes down to insecurity and is not fair.
However, that is the world we live in.

I'm sure that you would prefer to see healthy models on the catwalk though - say a size 6 through to 10 rather than the frighteningly thin models out there. I don't understand how a girl can be a size 4 and still be healthy, especially if she is getting on for six foot.

I do think that there is far too much professional pressure on would-be models and also actresses to slim down to nothing to become more famous and this must have a bad effect on the upcoming generation of gilrs. Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, Mary-Kate and Ashley and Victoria Beckham have achieved new heights of thinness which must surely be the result of unhealthy eating patterns - not necessarily eating disorders - but these are the women that girls younger that yourself see as rich, successful and beautiful. Why wouldn't they want to be just like them, size 4 jeans and everything?

You are exactly right, though. The aim SHOULD be to be healthy and to eat nutritious, balanced meals. Maybe one day women will stop obsessing over gaining or losing 2lbs and concentrate on enjoying what life has to offer.

Well done to you for being so switched on and self-confident. Please love your body - it's the only one you have.

Answer 5

Actually im quite confused. Everyone says size 0 US is a size 4 UK.
I buy clothes from the US and the size chart measures size 0 as
Waist: 24 ish
Hips:34.5"
Bust: 32.5"

now the thing is i look quite curvy and my hips are no where near 34 inches. These clothes don't fit me, size 0 is too big for me.
So now im thinking thats silly because im a size 6/8 on my lower body and less on my upper (but i stick with 6 because i cant find clothes that are smaller in size) not even the designer clothes come in a size smaller. Dior shop stocks size's that are too big for me. Im no way anorexic.

I've come to the conclusion that size 0 has been taken out of context and the only reason we use this term is to emphasise on the whole having no flesh on the bones.. aka Zero
I can't wait for this to blow over it sucks. Everyone is so bothered about being so dangerously thin, i can't even get clothes that fit me comfortablly.

Answer 6

People who are a size zero are just built differently and people need to accept that IMO, my BMI has been as low as 16.5 but the bone structure of my hips means they'll never fit below a UK size 8. Dress size does not indicate whether or not someone has an eating disorder, and BMI isn't even that great because someone could be doing so much exercise that they've built up muscle and weigh a 'normal' amount but still have dangerously low body fat.

I also think it's so wrong that nobody sees anything wrong with telling a skinny girl to eat more, but if you tell a fat girl to eat less you'll have a nuclear meltdown on your hands.

Answer 7

I really get annoyed when people say a size zero is unnatural. Some people really are naturally skinny. They just have high metabolism and/or are really active.
Yeah, there are some size zeros that have eating disorders (and some size 20's have disorders too), but many are naturally this way and no matter how much they eat they can't gain weight.
Be whatever size you want, just be healthy about it and realistic. There's no need to bring others down just becuase you aren't naturally skinny.
But, I defintely agree 100% with the original poster.

Answer 8

I'm 24 and I'm size 10 - 12, i eat healthy sometimes and exercise occasionally. It's OK for those who are naturally slim but it's a shame on those who strive to be a size zero.

You are right, the aim should be healthy, not curvy or thin. There's nothing to be ashamed about OK sweetheart.

I personally don't find it attractive when i see those size zero actresses and model with their "chest plate" printing out and looking like a skeleton.

Answer 9

To be honest im gettin a bit bored of the size 0 rubbish. next it will be oh look at me im a size -4 or -6. when will it all stop. Im a 10-12 and I personally thinks that a perfectly healthy size to be. This skeleton look surely isnt healthy. If you are naturally think then fine but these people who live off lettuce leaves need to get a life and start going down the pie shop more oftern.

Answer 10

I, too, had this problem. I don't consider it a problem any longer because my doctor explained it to me like this...15 years and before America was "thin. "Now everybody seems overweight and we are still thin. Look at the lack of exercise in America due to video games and fast food ,laziness, etc...
I love my body and apparantly society is spending vast amounts of money on diet and gyms to look like us. I. too can eat anything I want, but I stay active, too. I believe we aren't too thin, but that alot of people are fat. We are the same height, I have long legs and wear a size C bra. I still get told that I am too skinny, especially by women...fat women. Do you get my drift?? So, be grateful of your size .I know more people would trade places with you in a heart beat. Next time someone says something bad to you, tell them they look aweful in "green" and eat a big cheese burger in front of them. LOL

Answer 11

Im a size either double or triple zero american and I hate the rude questions people ask me about my eating habits and my health. When I go in for doctors visits though, my lifestyle is actually quiet healthy, I eat good, excersize, have good self esteem. Yet others seem to look down on me for what I weigh, as if I am giving in to the demands of the fashion world and what is labeled as attractive. W/E, as long as I am happy with what I am, then thats all that matters to me anymore.