Why Aren't Thin People Fat?

This is a bit of a digression, but speaking of average sizes . . . I had a friend in grad school who was a size XS, and she never paid more than maybe $10-15 for any item of clothing.  She always had a huge selection of extra smalls to choose from on the 80% off sale rack, meanwhile the Ls and XLs were long gone.  Retailers seriously don't have a clue.  Why do they insist on carrying so many tiny sizes? 

Really? I have found just the opposite here in the UK. I find there to be fewer small sizes (UK 6s and 8s) than medium sizes - very few shops sell size 6s at all - and I've found that some of the lower end shops (BHS for example) don't even sell sizes smaller than a 10.

I usually wear a UK size 8-10 (depending on the item) and I'm a forty-something with curves and cellulite on my thighs, "normal" BMI. I can't imagine where a skinny twenty-something - who would probably be a good two sizes smaller than me - would find clothes, let alone clothing on sale.

That is not to say that it isn't equally hard, or possibly even harder, to find larger sized clothing.

Really? I have found just the opposite here in the UK. I find there to be fewer small sizes (UK 6s and 8s) than medium sizes - very few shops sell size 6s at all - and I've found that some of the lower end shops (BHS for example) don't even sell sizes smaller than a 10.

Agree totally. I see tons of sizes 12+ on sales racks but the selection of 8-10 seems to be much smaller.

Really? I have found just the opposite here in the UK. I find there to be fewer small sizes (UK 6s and 8s) than medium sizes - very few shops sell size 6s at all - and I've found that some of the lower end shops (BHS for example) don't even sell sizes smaller than a 10.

I usually wear a UK size 8-10 (depending on the item) and I'm a forty-something with curves and cellulite on my thighs, "normal" BMI. I can't imagine where a skinny twenty-something - who would probably be a good two sizes smaller than me - would find clothes, let alone clothing on sale.

I'm in the U.S. and I agree. I'm not tiny, pretty normal yet I can't find jeans or clothes rather that I want in my size, I think I'm about sweetpeach's dress size, but I'm short as well.

Usually by the time I get to the store, my sizes are all gone. It sucks when you find something really cute, happens to me a lot with shoes as well, and they have one size smaller, one size bigger and several more larger ones  :\\\'(. It is very rare that I find anything that fits me on the sales rack, usually they're filled with larger sizes. Even I find something on the rack, most likely I would have to get it hemmed    :\\\'(

This is mostly with cheaper stores though, I usually have better luck in more expensive stores, but the drawback with that is that the store is expensive   :\\\'(

The difference between the US and the UK.  In the US, I was always frustrated by the range of sizes, or rather the lack of range.  I'm tickled to death that I can shop the sale rack in Debenham's and find my size.  

ETA: Rynn, I'm surprised, this is completely the opposite of my experience. 

Every time I shop the sales, all I seem to find are UK size 8 items and UK size 22-24 items!

Really? I have found just the opposite here in the UK. I find there to be fewer small sizes (UK 6s and 8s) than medium sizes - very few shops sell size 6s at all - and I've found that some of the lower end shops (BHS for example) don't even sell sizes smaller than a 10.

I usually wear a UK size 8-10 (depending on the item) and I'm a forty-something with curves and cellulite on my thighs, "normal" BMI. I can't imagine where a skinny twenty-something - who would probably be a good two sizes smaller than me - would find clothes, let alone clothing on sale.

I think it depends on the shop. I'm a twenty-something who wears a UK size 8-10 and I have no problems finding clothes in my size  . Over the last 10 years or so, I've seen the shops go from selling a size 8 as the smallest size to stocking several size 6's and even the odd size 4 ( ) - if anything, I've found that the sizes have been getting smaller each year (due to that terrible size-0 phenomenon sweeping in).

Agree totally. I see tons of sizes 12+ on sales racks but the selection of 8-10 seems to be much smaller.

I've always been under the impression that there are no/few size 8-10 because those are the most popular sizes and so by the time the sales come around, there are not many size 8 or 10 left to reduce... and they tend to sell the fastest as soon as the sale starts. I was looking at coats in the sale the other week and one store only had size 8's left in one coat and size 6's in another... nothing larger than that at all!

This is a little off with the current topic but I'm just curious about what you all think about the thin/diet programs that have been on the BBC. I found these videos on youtube, and with the topic, just wonder what you think.

Truth about Size Zero:

Super Slim Me:

Super Skinny Me (race to Size 00):

While such programs are interesting to me, I don't like how people can watch these programs and almost learn how to get to a size zero or double zero.

This is a little off with the current topic but I'm just curious about what you all think about the thin/diet programs that have been on the BBC. I found these videos on youtube, and with the topic, just wonder what you think.

Truth about Size Zero:

Super Slim Me:

Super Skinny Me (race to Size 00):

While such programs are interesting to me, I don't like how people can watch these programs and almost learn how to get to a size zero or double zero.

Well, you ask what we think, and based on my recollection of having watched a few of these programmes, I *think* that the weight loss is only temporary and they all end up regaining the weight, probably disproportionately to how they lost it (that is, they probably lost muscle mass in the "race" to be size 0 or whatever, and regained the weight in fat).  Not very good for real life, though of course entertaining enough to serve as telly fodder.

Well, you ask what we think, and based on my recollection of having watched a few of these programmes, I *think* that the weight loss is only temporary and they all end up regaining the weight, probably disproportionately to how they lost it (that is, they probably lost muscle mass in the "race" to be size 0 or whatever, and regained the weight in fat).  Not very good for real life, though of course entertaining enough to serve as telly fodder.

Well, in super skinny me, they did a check up after two weeks when both ladies finished their crash diets. None of the women, as far as I know, wanted to continue living that way, so of course the lifestyles weren't permanent. To me, one of the most important messages is that it is not necessarily a breeze to maintain such a slim figure that ex: Hollywood stars lead us to believe.

I guess another question I have is if people think these programs are helping or worsening the situation on super skinny fads?

I guess another question I have is if people think these programmes are helping or worsening the situation on super skinny fads?

I dont think thats the only factor.  What I find awful is models and teenagers programmes where they have kids in the fashion of "Emo Style painfully thin girls that look as tho they are on Heroin".  I was fumbling through a teen mag at the doctors and I was shocked at the images of the super super thin girls with blacked out eye make up, pale skined..and looking ill.

 

I have an issue with the way we stick people into the broad categories of "fat" and "thin". Someone who is 10 pounds over their "correct" weight according to the BMI scale (and feels great) is not the same as someone who is so heavy that they have difficulty walking and breathing.

The same goes for the other end of the scale - someone who is "not fat" isn't necessarily "thin", but often people use "thin" to mean "not fat", i.e. "normal" weight.

I don't think those TV shows that show extremes of weight are very helpful.  Most people aren't supersize or superskinny, but somewhere in between.  I think these shows encourage people to categorise anyone who is above a certain weight/dress size as fat our under a certain weight/dress size as skinny.  I also don't think it's realistic for someone who is slightly heavier or slightly lighter than they would wish to compare their eating and exercise habits to the supersize/superskinnies, who may have other physical problems.

I think we need to have a broader definition of what "normal" weight is.

I think it would be far better to show programmes about how to make the best of yourself, no matter what size / body shape you are.  I always take on board tips about my shape from Gok!! 

I think a size 12 is perfectly healthy.

See, I am (usually) a size 12. I'm 5'9" and probably 20lbs heavier than I'd really like to be. I've been smaller in weight, but can't seem to be smaller than size 12!!! It's strange, really. I try to reason with myself that I am tall, but I have seen taller women who are size 8 or 10. I know better than to obsess about the number, but it does bother me I must admit. I am a runner, vegetarian, and eat pretty healthy most of the time. Not sure what else I can do that wouldn't end in me obsessing over calories and food intake. I don't think that's healthy *mentally*. I guess I'd rather be more fit and less flab, even if it means being stuck in size 12 forever.

So, if there is still an interest in keeping this thread going, I will throw out this question:

What is your quality of sleep?

As there have been studies linking lack of sleep, and/or poor quality sleep to things such as depression, psychosis and overeating (to compensate for lower energy levels), I wondered what the straw poll on this thread is.

Personally, I do not sleep well at all - I am a very light sleeper and I wake up at least once or twice during the night.  I do make sure to get 8 hours every night though (at least, I spend 8 hours in bed, even if I'm tossing and turning, struggling to get back to sleep after waking up, dealing with thoughts running through my head about things I have to do the next day, etc.)

And I have struggled with my weight since I was a child (though I have struggled much less with weight related issues in the past 5 years as other circumstances in my life - not related to sleep - have greatly improved).  So I wouldn't say that sleep has a whole lot to do with my weight, but maybe I am sleeping relatively better than I used to, even though it's still not ideal.

I've never heard about a sleep/weight correlation, but that's very interesting. I don't sleep well and never have. I generally lie in bed for about two hours before falling asleep. Sometimes it's five or six hours, sometimes more. It's rarely less than two hours. Once I'm asleep, I'm down for the count, though. I can't remember the last time I got eight hours of sleep - though I do feel much better when I do.