No, simply being a size 10 does not mean you are considered “fat” or even unhealthy.
A size 10 is not an indication of being overweight or obese, as many people think.
The main issue with using clothing sizes as a way to gauge if someone is overweight is that there is no standardization and everybody’s bodies are not built the same.
One brand’s size 10 could be another brand’s size 6. It really depends on the company and how they design their garments.
People come in all different shapes and sizes, so a size 10 on one person may look completely different on another person.
There is no one size fits all when it comes to fashion, which is why many people are left feeling confused and have difficulty shopping for clothes in the first place.
The History of Sizing
The modern sizing of women’s clothing is inaccurate and misleading, causing many women to believe they are larger than they actually are.
For centuries, women’s clothing has been reliant on standardized sizing.
In the early days of clothing manufacturing, garments were often made to measure.
As mass production became more common, designers began experimenting with ways to standardize sizing.
In the early 20th century, a system of numbered sizes was introduced.
As you know, numbered sizes run from a size 0 up to a size 22 in most brands.
However, this system was eventually abandoned in favor of letter sizing, which is still in use today. You may find numbered sizing also still being used and still common, however.
Lettered Size
Numbered Size
XS
0-2
S
4-6
M
8-10
L
12-14
XL
16-18
XXL
20-22
1X
16W-18W
2X
20W-22W
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The introduction of letter sizing made it easier for manufacturers to produce garments in a range of sizes, but it also had the unintended consequence of making it difficult for women to find their correct size.
As a result, many women end up wearing clothes that are too large or too small.
How Sizing Affects Body Image
The way clothing is sized has a direct impact on how women view their own bodies, and this needs to change.
If clothing is too large or small and a woman who usually wears a size 10 needs a size 12 in another store, it can cause a woman to feel uncomfortable in her own skin.
Also, over the years, many women and people in general have become hung up on clothing sizes as a way to gauge how fit or “skinny” they are.
For example, you may have seen on many TV shows and movies where a woman will boast she is a size 6, and a woman who wears a size 8, 10, or 12 may be looked at in a negative light.
This puts a preconceived notion into a woman’s head that just because she is a size 10, she is fat. This could not be further from the truth.
Marilyn Monroe is considered one of the most beautiful women of all time. Marilyn was a size 14.
Kim Kardashian’s hip measurement is around 41 inches which would mean she would likely be a size 12-16 depending on the brand.
You shouldn’t be focused on being “skinny” or on what clothing size you are, but rather how HEALTHY you are.
Why is There Such a Disparity in Sizes?
There is no one solid answer to this question. A number of factors, including the fashion industry, cultural norms, and even individual body types can contribute to the disconnect between sizes.
Have you ever noticed that in one store, you may find that you wear a size 10 in your favorite jeans, but in another store you may be a size 12?
This is because there is no industry wide standard for sizing, so each store or designer can size their garments however they please.
This is even true for me as well. For example, i may walk into one store and wear a size 36 in waist size, and another store I may be a size 38 or even 40.
This used to make me feel very self conscious and bad about myself, but now I realize that clothing size has no direct correlation with how healthy my body is.
This is one of the reasons why clothing sizes can be so confusing and frustrating for women, and also men.
In addition, our culture often sends the message that being thinner is better than being overweight.
While there is nothing wrong with being thin, this idealized standard of beauty can make it difficult for women who don’t fit into that mold to feel good about themselves.
It’s important to remember that clothing sizes are not an accurate representation of your overall health or fitness level.
Just because you may be a size 10 does not mean you are “fat” or unhealthy. And just because you are a size 2 does not mean you are “too skinny.”
There is a better way to decide without clothing sizes.
The Top 3 Ways to Judge If Your Current Weight is Healthy
The best way to decide if your current weight is considered healthy is a combination of measuring your body, checking your weight, and checking lab work done by your doctor.
1. Measure your body
Have you ever used a tape measure to measure your body? You should consider it.
When you use a tape measure to check your body fat, you can get an accurate representation of how much fat is on your body and where it is distributed.
For example, if you want to see if you have too much fat around your waist, you would measure the circumference of your waist at its smallest point.
For women, it is recommended to measure circumference of the waist and hips.
For women, overall a waist size of less than 35 inches is considered best, and for men less than 40 inches is great.
Measuring abdominal and waist fat, or the waist to hip ratio is a reliable and easy way to prevent many diseases caused by obesity, such as diabetes.
2. Check your Weight
You can choose to weigh yourself, and see if your weight is considered healthy for your age, gender, and height.
For example, if you are 5’2 and female and weigh 160 pounds, this would be considered overweight based on calculation of the BMI.
BMI or Body Mass Index
The body mass index, or BMI is a way of measuring your weight in relation to your height.
It is not a perfect measure, but it is a good place to start. It is often used by healthcare professionals.
A BMI of 25 or above is considered overweight, and a BMI of 30 or above is considered obese.
By checking out the website linked above, you could easily check your own BMI.
I do want to point out, that while the BMI or body mass index is used by many healthcare professionals to judge how obese a person is, the BMI does have the ability to be highly inaccurate because it does not take into account a person’s muscle mass, bone density, or even body fat percentage.
For example, a very muscular person may have a high BMI but low body fat percentage, but this tool will not reflect that.
Similarly, a petite woman may have a low BMI but high body fat percentage.
This is one reason why I do not think BMI should be used as a stand alone tool, and I prefer to just measure my body and check up on my labs to check overall health.
I just simply feel the BMI is usually inaccurate a high percentage of the time.
I have seen many women and men who have high percentages of muscle or are super tall in height and when they use this tool, they are considered obese.
You may want to consider the next choice.
3. Check Lab Work Done by Your Doctor
Sometimes it is just best to speak with your doctor if you are concerned about if your current weight is healthy for you.
Your doctor will likely do some sort of lab work when you go in for a physical.
If your doctor does not, you could always ask if they can.
This might include things like checking your cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure along with other vital signs.
These tests can give you a good idea if your weight could be taking a toll on your health and if you could afford to lose some body fat.
Conclusion
A size 10 is not considered fat and clothing size should not be used as a judge of how healthy or unhealthy you are.
The best way to find out for yourself how overweight or unhealthy you may be is to check your weight, measure your waist circumference, or just speak to your doctor and seek their opinion.
Shopping for clothes can make many people nervous and even just make them feel bad about themselves overall, but you must remember we are all made differently and the size of your jeans is not a reflection of how healthy you are.
