Cutie 1985
Member
Hey, Im Jen, Im 21 and this is my first post but I have been lurking for months. I came across this site at Wikipedia (as a college student, Wikipedia is my Bible).
My question is about size labels, weight, and how this differs here at Dimensions compared to the real world. At Dimensions, it seems like if a person weighs between 170 and 200 (give or take), they are referred to as chubby, thick, chunky or a little overweight. It is not until a person is 200+ pounds that they are considered fat.
I find this interesting because society considers chubby to be under 140-150 pounds, above that you are labeled fat. I've always considered myself borderline fat and in need of losing a good 20 pounds (Im 5 4, 150). Others including my mom, doctor, boyfriend, and my sorority sisters (they are a whole other story when it comes to weight issues) have reinforced the fact that Im fat and need to lose weight. Yet here at Dimensions, I wouldnt be considered fat. Anyway, why is that?
Why do Dimensions members stretch these categories and refer to people who weigh 170 200 pounds as chubby or a little heavy, when the real world would consider them plain, old fat? Is this to boost self-esteem and make people feel better by not using the term fat? Is this because most Dimensions members weigh over 200 pounds, so no one wants to call them fat and obese? Or do Dimensions members truly feel that 170 pounds is chubby and not fat, unlike the real world/rest of society? I know height makes a difference, but in general it seems like Dimensions members only use the word fat for those that society would call really fat/obese? Does anyone else notice this? And do you do this in reference to yourself do you know your fat, but call your self chubby?
~ Jen
My question is about size labels, weight, and how this differs here at Dimensions compared to the real world. At Dimensions, it seems like if a person weighs between 170 and 200 (give or take), they are referred to as chubby, thick, chunky or a little overweight. It is not until a person is 200+ pounds that they are considered fat.
I find this interesting because society considers chubby to be under 140-150 pounds, above that you are labeled fat. I've always considered myself borderline fat and in need of losing a good 20 pounds (Im 5 4, 150). Others including my mom, doctor, boyfriend, and my sorority sisters (they are a whole other story when it comes to weight issues) have reinforced the fact that Im fat and need to lose weight. Yet here at Dimensions, I wouldnt be considered fat. Anyway, why is that?
Why do Dimensions members stretch these categories and refer to people who weigh 170 200 pounds as chubby or a little heavy, when the real world would consider them plain, old fat? Is this to boost self-esteem and make people feel better by not using the term fat? Is this because most Dimensions members weigh over 200 pounds, so no one wants to call them fat and obese? Or do Dimensions members truly feel that 170 pounds is chubby and not fat, unlike the real world/rest of society? I know height makes a difference, but in general it seems like Dimensions members only use the word fat for those that society would call really fat/obese? Does anyone else notice this? And do you do this in reference to yourself do you know your fat, but call your self chubby?
~ Jen
