Size 12 and overweight???

[AB Asks]

A survey has shown that half of women want plastic surgery. The poll of 25,000 people showed a third of women who are size 12 believe they are fat or overweight. It also showed that one in ten women hated their body. One in five women is also on a diet. The results show how unhappy women are with their bodies. Does this deep unhappiness over body shape stem from the size zero models seen walking down the catwalk? Or does it come from somewhere else?

[MustangLady]

I actually think it does influence at lot of younger girls (and boys) these days. Its shameful to think that a size 12 is FAT!
The average woman size these days is actually a size 16. I am one of these 'unhappy' woman who hates my size and weight. I am a size 14 and would ideally like to be a size 12 and lose at least another stone, not because of any size zero model, but purely because I used to be that size and know I want to be it again. I do hate what society expects you to be these days, you see too many 'skinny' models, popstars and actresses, and yes they do have a big influence on kids these days and they should be the ones to let kids know its not shameful to be a bigger size. Lets see & hear more "stars" tell the kids its ok NOT to be a size zero and lets see more models in a size 12-14(even 16+). That is the size of a real woman !!!

[PinkFizz]

I have and will always struggle with my weight. To be honest, I am perfectly happy at home and with my partner but as soon as I go shopping I feel overweight. I am a size 16 with big boobs and curvy bum but all clothes these days seem to cater for the stick thin and I am totally sick of it. Life is too short to constantly strive to be a certain weight yet the pressure is there.

[Gef]

Why is AB always at least a week late with the "news"?

[justasking]

I don't think it stems from size zero models. I see fat people walking about everyday and it doesn't make me wanna be fat. I admire ricki lake and oprah but i still don't want to be fat. Maybe a few would want to be smaller by seeing these models but not a third of women. But to me size 12 is too wide...sorry peoples (I said for me).

[missyR]

I think it's totally natural to be unhappy with your body. In an ideal world we all want to be perfect and most of us spend our lives trying to correct these imperfections. I think the vulnerable can be influenced but i think it comes mostly from their desire to be skinny, beautiful and have no spots etc.

[Kat213]

I have always been a size 10 and feel fat if I start creeping towards a 12 .... its nothing to do with the media its just that I am uncomfortable putting weight on and knowing what I 'should' be.

Caz, it is unfortunate if somebody has a medical condition or genuine reason for being overweight (my mother is in this position and I genuinely sympathise with her) - but I do think that this accounts for only a very small percentage of people who are overweight. Generally speaking the only condition they are suffering from is cake retention etc etc and if they genuinely did not like being fat they could do something about it. It really is simple - intake less calories than you use on a day to day basis and you will lose weight.

[JK2]

When I came to London in 1967 I was a designer but also did some showroom modelling and was a size 12 - sample size - which was 34-24-36. . 40 years later I am 3/4 stone heavier with increased measurements and yet I am now a size 10!!!

As a designer for those 40 years I know that the trade kept the average size as size 12 but the size 12 pattern was increased over the years. The current size 12 pattern would have been considered a generous size 14 in 1967 (more like a size 15).

So compared to the girls of the 60's, todays size 12 girl is much bigger and heavier. The current size 8/10 is more like a 60's size 12.

[stylinsam]

size 12 fat are you joking me!!!
the thing is im only 21 and about 3 years ago when i was 18-19 all i ever wanted was to look like a model (yes i no its daft ) every time i went to work on my lunch id buy amagazine with models popstars celebs etc and i would sit and look and them and think i wish i had a body like that, obviously as i grew older i realised that different people have different body shapes and iv just got to live with that, my cousin who has just turned 18 is a size 10 i am worried about her as we are close she comes to myn most nights and we chat but she is really down about her weight and no matter how many times i tell her Sadie your not fat theres nothing on you! she wont have it!. so i say ok who do u want to look like and she goes through the lists of celebs (e.g) sienna miller,kate moss!! these are the people my baby cousin wants to look like, so i do think it is something to do with models and the size zero thing!!, the way i see it is if these poeple want to be size zero thats fair enough but i think media newspapers magazines are to blame too, afterall they are the ones that write the stories and print them.!

[smudge]

Some of these catwalk models look like they need a good dumpling stew, or roast dinner with Yorkshire pudding!

I'm a size 12 & don't class myself as overweight!

I've never felt the need to diet, however like most women (& men), I do get days when I feel a bit bloated & if/when I do, I get myself off out there for a nice long walk, or off to the swimming pool!

Works wonders!

[Champagne]

Fashion has always dictated the way women (and men) are expected to look. Unfortunately we live in an era of 'body beautiful' where slim, toned, tanned bodies are expected of women and men. Media doesn't help by having stereotypes of this image plastered all over magazines and TV. That perfect body is so difficult to achieve because no matter how much you work at it you will still never look like the image you aspire to be!

I'm a size 10 currently and I actually want to put on a bit of weight. I know a lot of women would kill to be a size 10 but unfortunately being that size doesn't get any easier. I know I can easily fluctuate so I have to have a healthy diet and jog/walk as much as I can. I just have to stop exercising and I swell 2 lbs overnight!

Sometimes I wonder why the hell I bother because at the end of the day it's just external image, right? But that's the pressures of society today I guess.

[Coldicote]

What an obsessive lot women are. For goodness sake be thankful if you have a body that works!

[kwicky]

Women are seeking perfection so that they can appeal to the more perfect male specimen.

[Metz]

I'm a size 12 ..height 5ft 5 "... guess i'm over weight ...Oh well, whatever, nevermind.... :o)

[lizzydrippin]

If to have a beautiful, 'perfect' body really did equal being happy, content and fulfilled then how come so many beautiful 'perfect' women have either been really depressed, committed suicide, or became addicted to drink or drugs over the years?. Its your mind and attitude that needs to be beautiful. I agree with Kat213 about people having a choice as to whether they're fat or not (except the minority of folk with health problems). Its simple, you're eating more than your body needs, cut down and eat healthily.

[tiger104]

I am the same, I'm a healthy weight for my height but i've been trying for the last 10 years to get rid of that half stone i hate, I 'll always be the same, up and down like a yo yo....
Then something comes on the telly like those two girls, with one body and two heads......awful, can't watch it....
We Ought to think ourselves lucky, what kind of a life have they got...