Plus-size ≠ Obese (2024)

FAQs

Is plus-size just obese? ›

“Fat” and “plus-size” are terms often used to refer to people who live and occupy space in a larger body. “Plus size” is a term often used in the fashion industry, typically to refer to clothing marketed primarily to women. In general, body descriptors should only be included when necessary and relevant.

Silvana Pannain, MD: Yes, you can be overweight and metabolically healthy. At the same time, we know that obesity is a disease that affects the body in many different ways. Thirteen types of cancer and 200 other health conditions are related to obesity.

A BMI of 30 and above falls into the obese category for most people; 25 to under 30 is considered overweight. It's ubiquitously used by medical professionals to determine who is at risk for Type 2 diabetes and heart disease and who qualifies for anti-obesity medications and weight loss surgery.

Obesity is defined as a BMI of 30.0 or higher. Overweight is defined as a BMI of 25.0 to 29.9. Healthy BMI is defined as a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. Underweight is defined as a BMI of 18.5 or less.

Average American weights heights are considered obese -- about 170 lbs./5'3” for women and 197 lbs./5'9” for men -- so “average” doesn't mean “healthy.”

According to PLUS Model magazine, "In the fashion industry, plus size is identified as sizes 18 and over, or sizes 1X-6X and extended size as 7X and up".

The term skinny fat or normal weight obesity (NWO) refers to a person who is normal or below normal weight but has a higher than optimal body fat percentage and often lower than optimal lean body mass. A person with a skinny fat body type can have very high amounts of body fat as compared to a lean body mass.

Your activity level: Someone who is very inactive may have a BMI in the normal range and have lots of body fat, though they may not look out of shape. "They have very low levels of muscle and bone -- often elderly people, those in poor shape, sometimes those who are sick.

Hidden Obese means that the body has a high percentage of fat and a low level of muscle mass. Even though you might look like average from the outside, your fat levels are too high. This could lead to obesity, which could lead to serious health problems.

What weight is considered obese for a female? ›

You are the right weight for your height if you weigh between 136 and 178 pounds and your BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. You are overweight if you weigh between 179 and 214 pounds and your BMI is between 25 and 29.9. You are obese if you weigh 215 pounds or more and your BMI is 30 or greater.

How does severe obesity differ from the other types of obesity? A person who has severe obesity has a BMI of 40 or higher, nearly twice the BMI level of someone who is classified as overweight. A BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

Does 'plus-size' equate to obesity? Absolutely not. The term "plus size" in the context of fashion refers to clothing sizes that extend beyond the standard sizing range. It's important to distinguish between clothing size and health or body composition.

Morbid obesity is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of more than 40, which equates to approximately 100 pounds overweight for men and 80 pounds for women. Obesity is a chronic disease that can cause a host of health problems and shorten your life.

If your BMI is less than 18.5, it falls within the underweight range. If your BMI is 18.5 to 24.9, it falls within the Healthy Weight range. If your BMI is 25.0 to 29.9, it falls within the overweight range. If your BMI is 30.0 or higher, it falls within the obese range.

People who are overweight can be considered healthy if their waist size is less than 35 inches for women or 40 inches for men, and if they do not have two or more of the following conditions: High blood pressure. High blood sugar.

(also plus-sized, us/ˈplʌs ˌsaɪzd/ uk/ˈplʌs ˌsaɪzd/) designed for people who are larger than average, or used to describe someone who is larger than average in size: She's a plus-size model.

An example: "A football player or a body builder who is very muscular. Their BMI shows up pretty high, and yet their body fat is actually pretty low," Kahan says. Your activity level: Someone who is very inactive may have a BMI in the normal range and have lots of body fat, though they may not look out of shape.