The UK is a nation of -porkers- discuss

Of course 'porker' is a derogatory word. I don't know why anyone would wish to defend it. Though I suspect it is only people who aren't overweight who think it's a perfectly acceptable description.
I have known people who justify their use of cruel language by saying they're only 'being honest', or 'calling a spade a spade'. Katie Hopkins is the queen of this behaviour and I don't believe there are many people who admire her, so why try to emulate her, even slightly?
I was brought up to be kind to people, to not say anything hurtful. It seems to me that there are people who feel morally superior by claiming not to be two-faced - that saying something to someone's face is better than saying it behind their back. Isn't it better just to not say it at all? To have some compassion, some understanding, to make allowances? I'm sure we would all wish others to make allowances for us at times.
The Golden Rule is the one we should all live by: treat others as you would wish to be treated. It's simple really

I would say plump for those who are generously rounded, fat for those who who have bulges round the middle and bingo wings, obese for those who bulge all over and can't see their feet.

Average is for those whose size you don't even notice. I believe the average dress size in the UK is 16 (so why do the dress shops stock so few decent things in a size 18 or 20? There must be as many 16s and 20s as there are 12s and 14s?)

Slim is for those whose trousers skim neatly from their waists over their behinds and down to their ankles, skinny for those whose wrists and ankles show the bones clearly, emaciated for the ones with no flesh whatsoever and faces like skulls.

Where would I fit in those categories? At 13st 7lb and a size 20, I don't regard myself as obese. Somewhere between plump and fat, and have gradually got very slightly heavier each year. I am active and independent and free from illness, I don't overeat and I don't starve myself, and I have never gone on extreme diets.

Fat is indeed not obese- obese is a clear medical definition.

I call myself chubby- and yet I am medically obese - I can see my feet, and I do not wobble all over and am very fit and active, despite my very gummy knee. No-one I know would say 'she is obese' when they see me- but that I am chubby, or well-built. Anyhow- I am glad many here agree that the term 'porker' (or lard-arse, beach whale, etc) is a/ very rude and much more importantly b/ not helpful at all in the discussion on obesity.

Such a shame on those 2 children in mourning- how sad. And of course their weight was irrelevant in the context- but, knowing how they will be treated and bullied by others, and also what health problems lie ahead for them- if we care for them, we should care for their weight in the long term, surely.

Here is the chart:

Height

Obesity point
Ft/inchesMetres

Pounds

Kilos
4.101.47m143 pounds (10 stone 3 pounds)65.0kg
4.111.50m148 pounds (10 stone 8 pounds)67.3kg
5.01.52m153 pounds (10 stone 13 pounds)69.5kg
5.11.55m159 pounds (11 stone 5 pounds)72.3kg
5.21.57m164 pounds (11 stone 10 pounds)74.5kg
5.31.60m169 pounds (12 stone 1 pound)76.8kg
5.41.63m175 pounds (12 stone 7 pounds)79.5kg
5.51.65m180 pounds (12 stone 12 pounds)81.8kg
5.61.68m186 pounds (13 stone 4 pounds)84.5kg
5.71.70m191 pounds (13 stone 9 pounds)86.8kg
5.81.73m197 pounds (14 stone 1 pound)89.5kg
5.91.75m203 pounds (14 stone 7 pounds)92.3kg
5.101.78m209 pounds (14 stone 13 pounds)95.0kg
5.111.80m215 pounds (15 stone 5 pounds)97.7kg
6.01.83m221 pounds (15 stone 11 pounds)100.4kg

I am 90kg and 1.64- so clearly obese medically speaking- and size 20. You can call ME porker or lard-arse, beach whale (I swim like a dolphin though, ski and snowboard... but hey ho, I don't care) but don't use those terms in any sensible and very important discussion about obesity. Thank you. Ta.

I really do not like the use of the slang word 'ta'. I find it offensive.
Can we add it to the list of words now banned on GN perhaps

Rheumatologist told me I was obese. I didn't like her frankness but agreed that she was right. I hope that when I see her again I can tell her I've lost 6kg. Almost there! But it was the skirts that didn't fit round the waist that clinched the deal - I immediately signed up to Weightwatchers online.

That's the point I was making anno there are words which some of us don't like, for whatever reason.

If it applies to you personally it's not pleasant, often unwelcome and very often denied. But if it is a catalyst for change then that can be a positive.

Well done on your weight loss

"Ta" was what babies/ tinies used to say for thank you in my hometown in Scotland. VERY much frowned upon by my parents who insisted we speak properly!

elegran I am not fat and I have bingo wings. Even on my lower arms. Who knew?

Anyway, please review your description and amend accordingly.

I have a friend who calls fat people "stomachs" - dreadful expression. Still I have noticed with interest that she appears to be putting on weight since reaching the menopause!

No we can't add it to any list, ta very much!

I say it a lot. Nothing wrong with it.

Beginning to feel quite cheerful. I am about 5ft7 and weigh at the moment 12 12 and size large 18. Lovely to read all the other grans who are a similar sensible size.

I know someone who'll say of someone who is rather large, "God, s/he's a unit!"

I didn't use 'ta' with my DSs. I used to say 'thank you' so that they would copy me and when they did, I'd say 'good boy'. Not surprising then, that when I handed him something, DS1 eventually came out with 'gagooboy'.

'fat is indeed not obese'. Why not? Does it depend upon the degree of fatness?

Ana, do you ever read other people's posts? And yes, it does- as explained at 10.45.19 just this morning.

Ta - ta is not insulting to anyone- and as a Midlander, I will use it- GC live in Surrey, so wouldn't dream of using it with them ;)

Pot calling kettle? I never said 'ta' was insulting, of you had read my post you will see I said I find it offensive. Just don't like the word.
If you want to thank someone then do it correctly. IMO.

But, that's only my opinion and my problem. i wouldn't dream of demanding that other people reframe from using it.

granjura of course I read other people's posts. You said fat was indeed not obese, and I was asking why not, as the dictionary definition of obese is grossly fat or overweight.

The operative word could be "grossly".

Maybe, but I think it's splitting hairs rather.

Patapouf. Now doesn't that sound much kinder. We are a nation of patapoufs

Hello. My name's Jane and I'm a lardy lard arse. Oink oink !
Of course I'm old enough and confident enough to say that. Its not so easy for some plus sized youngsters.

It is a puzzle when you sit in a cafe next to someone who is hugely overweight and they are eating a large plate of chips. I guess that when you get to such a size, it hardly seems worth the effort of trying to lose weight, so you do those things that you enjoy - like eating chips. It must be a very difficult place to be.

I had a friend who thought that 3 Mars bars constituted a snack - he was of course very big; but there does seem to be some mechanism whereby some people can actually manage to accommodate such a large amount of food at one go - I could not even think about doing it - I would have given up after half of one bar. That does not represent any virtue on my part, it is simply constitutional. I don't have the capacity. Maybe if I worked at it, my stomach would grow to accommodate it all! I think I will give it a miss!

Oh, I could easily eat 3 Mars bars in one sitting, Luckygirl! I rein myself in though, for the sake of my health and weight. On my bucket list, I had 'eat nothing but chocolate for a day'. I was looking forward to it so much, but was sick of the sight of chocolate by teatime. I never thought I'd utter the words 'sick of the sight of chocolate'.....