The size 16 is a bit scary, yes, but the size 4 looks like a little boy in a bra... seriously people, do you know what a woman looks like? I'll give you a clue: Boobs and Hips are defining characteristics. If there were a thin woman with some, I wouldn't complain, but the one on a right isn't a woman.

ok, ok...I get it - we are fat, lazy Americans. The more you tell us how fat and lazy we are, the more willing we are to believe you.

A&F is a perfect example. I use to work there and as someone who would normally wear a size four, I would wear a size zero. Why wouldnt i want to be in denial and shop there?...its ridiculous

One further comment.....

Has anyone here ever noticed that in our society, it's ok for a man to be a little overweight, but if a woman's ribs aren't showing, she's considered "huge"?

One of the biggest problems we face with the whole weight issue is that it is a double standard.

Even in many work places, if two women apply for a job, the thinner one is often the one to get it, regardless of what the comparison of experience amounts to. Like it or not, weight is easily a civil rights issue, especially for women.

Forget sizes. Let's look at the science. According to the www.mypyramid.gov website, a healthy weight for a woman of about 5'6" is between 130-160. A larger amount of muscle could make this number even higher, as muscle is more dense than fat. Women who are typically in a size 4 are around 120lbs or less. Women in the healthy weight range can expect to be in sizes anywhere from 6 to 12, depending on their build.

Furthermore adipose tissue (fat) does serve a purpose. In moderate amounts, it actually helps to insulate organs. In other words, thin people freeze to death easier, while obese people are more likely to fall victim to heat stroke. Fat also contributes to the moisture of the skin. Ever notice how really thin ladies are always applying lotion? Or how larger women have more issues with acne?

We should strive neither to be thin nor fat. As with all other things in life, the middle ground is usually best.

Baby got back! I likem a lil thick in the rump with a flat tummy.

really? in articles about weight, you're always 16 or a 4. what about all of us (most of us) in the middle- 8s, 9s, 10s? what about the fact that sizing of most clothing is so disproportionate for women (i may fit into a 5 in one brand, meanwhile, i'm a 12, yes- a TWELVE?, in the next rack over) whereas most men's clothes come in ACTUAL INCHES, so they aren't victimized by these gross inaccuracies? Fat activism is backlash that comes from people who have dealt with humiliation on a sensitive issue. Rather than coming from so much anger, think about how you'd feel if you were the butt of so many punchlines about your imperfections (self-enabled or not). We come from a puritan society that sees gluttony as a sin, but who among us hasn't drank one too many or splurged on something we didn't really need (edible or not?). Most people love to eat and are addicted to the sugars & grease that most everyone can relate to as YUM! These "activists" just have a sense of pride after being the punchline for so long- so how about a little sensitivity, people?

I believe that as Americans we are poorly educated in many areas put up against the world.
Our obesity problem goes to show you that people either choose to remain ignorant or are in denial of their problem.
Clothing industry doesn't help either or the doctors who can't agree on what science is telling us.

We have health advisors but they can't tell the truth without fear of losing their job because some people don't want to hear they are fat and need to lose weight. We cater to people's "feelings" too much.

In reality, fat activism exists http://www.naafa.org to prove to the world that not every "fat" person will die by the age of 25. Nor are they all diabetics, have heart disease, and eat at McDonald's every day. Believe it or not, they exercise and eat their fruits and veggies!! Unfortunately, these very productive, law-abiding, tax-payers are consistently shamed, ridiculed and discriminated against. Many have had enough and this "fat activism" movement is growing. Here is a great book that really changed my mind about people "of size." http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0898159954 Perhaps it will change others, too. Note: Size discrimination would make an excellent topic for a pod. How about it?

we need to stop eating fast food and all that fake frozen food and we might as well start to ride our bikes to save on gas and get a work out

Well we all think about our body how we do, if we feel skinny, we'll think we are. The sizes from 30 years ago have changed as well. what was a size13 then is a 8 now. We also can't forget that the clothing industry wants their cash, so if you can fit into a size 10 when you're really a 12, you'll feel better about yourself and buy it just because you THINK you're now a 10. But they just make the sizes slimmer for more mulah. do you really think they had 000 sized jeans back in marilyns times?

it america, it doesn't help that it costs more to eat healthier than it does to eat mcdonalds 24/7.

I am an obesse 56 year old man, 5'8" tall 360 lbs., I've been obesse since childhood, doctors told me I'd be dead by 25 and when that didn't happen, they said I'd be dead by 35 and when that didn't happen, they said I'd dead by 45 and when that didn't happen, they said I'd be dead by 55 and when that didn't happen and so on and so on and so on. . .

As far as fat or skinny unless it is a significant case either way, be happy with your body.If we were all supposed to look the same we would all look like Brad Pitt or Jessica Alba

That woman looks smaller than a size four to me...

This is ludicrous. Seriously? People really don't see their own muffin tops or cellulite?

I feel that many problems could be solved by better education systems, this one being a main concern. If children were raised with good food, they would find that food their chosen source of nutrition later in life. Most people are subjected to cheap unhealthy food from early on, which strengthens the desire for that fun size pack of cheetos.

Only in America can we be the fattest and the most anorexic nation in the world.

people think they are getting thinner because the world is bowing down to the obese and making things bigger rather than demanding they get off their lazy butts and try to get healthy.

i dont think im fat, i think im winning the battle against anorexia

I was thinking how when I look around, i see people that are normal. But they aren't. They are grossly overweight, but it has become so common, you barely notice it anymore. Sick! Sick! Sick!

If obesity is looked at as an epidemic then I don’t want to even know how we are going to classify the unhealthy. That sort of thing comes in many forms, big and small.

Whats wrong with being a size 4 ?
It's not bad if you eat healthy and get exercise
on a daily maybe even weekly basic.

I once heard that being over weight is contagious .
I wonder if it's true?

BMI isn't even an accurate measurement. If they are going to be so critical of people's judgement they should find a better measurement system.

ANOTHER FAT ISSUE IN AMERICA WHAT A SURPRISE

I MEAN WE HAVE FAST FOOD PLACES ON EVERY CORNER NO WONDER AMERICA IS LOOKED AT AS THE MOST FATTEST COUNTRY

HOW ABOUT HAVING A FRUIT STAND EVERY CORNER

it should really be about how fit you are, not the number on the scale. we obsess about weight when we should be obsessing about fitness.

What are you guys talking about that chick looks good with a size 4. Personally i like collar bones ahhh

Why do we have to put sizes on everything? Like the picture? "size 16" vs "size 4," I'm a size 10 yet my body fat is less than 10% (which is healthy) and there are people who are size 10 and have outrageously high body fat percentage. so if we would just stop giving "acceptable" sizes and start taking responsibility for what we eat and how we behave than life would be a lot easier

the size 4 picture scares me more than the 16...

always weigh yourself I guess, don't go by dress sizing go by the inches you are losing around your waist and etc. I stopped being in denial a long ass time ago when my sister said stop fooling yourself you have a big ass.

If that's what a size 4 looks like, I don't want to be one.

Different brands make the sizes different so that does not help. I can wear a range of 4 or 5 sizes depending on the brand.

I understand this completely. I myself know I'm over weight according my BMI. However, when I try loosing weight to become healthier, they insist that I look anorexic or just unhealhy.

I now see where people's views of normal weight stand.

it doesn't help that clothing sizes have changed over the years!

Superficial much?

If you're healthy be happy, if not go see your doctor and do something about it. If you can't go see a doctor do anything except read bull shit like this...

In the 1940-1950's the U.S. based its standard size waist lines from European standards. But since then the U.S. has drastically drifted away from those standards. Take for example a size 12 in the 1950's. It would now be considered a size 6. A size 6 is now considered a size zero.

Here in the States, I feel so many people are bum-rushed by packaged food and poor eating habits to the extent that even when eating "healthy" we are taking in way too many calories. It's time to look at fresh produce rather than items like frozen meals...

Thats what fat people say

EWWWW Gross, "I believe in censorship in this case, aaahhh I'm blind, I'm blind"
Lay off the pizza & cake & take walks & you will be healthy & normal looking & require less medical care, costing us less money. Saving health care for people who are really sick, not just fat.

I really hope it's because people are realizing that the anorexic, or whisper thin models do not display anywhere near the ideal weight.

And that we are moving towards a "happier, yet healthy" weight median, where our diets are not so restricted that it dictates our lives.

We do not consider ourselves "fatter", we have just become more reasonably comfortable with our bodies and ourselves.

Abercrombie is a perfect study indeed clay - however ( and i might sound like an elitist ) , regardless of how significant one may think Ab.'s straight out lying is in the larger cultural scheme of things , "fat" people are seldom seen wearing Ab. shit - fat peeps are usually in american eagle , aeropostale or old navy ( all of which are cheap imitators of Ab. ) - and the fact that fatter peeps are more often seen in cheap imitations of Ab. shit is more significant than Ab. lying about sizing to customers whom are usually "thin" anyhow , regardless of what size Ab. fits them into.
in short , fat peeps are more likely to have bad taste , and be poor - hence , reducing poverty would make fat peeps thinner , and have better taste .

PUT THE TWINKIE DOWN, and step away slowly.

My mother told me that size 4, 20 years ago for women has become a 0 today.

Just go to a dress store when they measure you, they will tell you just how fat you are. Abercrombie is just dooping fat chicks today. Because when they slide into a 4 it makes them feel better than sliding into a 10

The size tag just reads "in denile".

Ah yes America, home of vanity sizing?

just goes to show... cant really think of anything to put in here.... .

i dont reallly care... i mean dont be like humongous but if ur fat.. who cares if u dont....

But also lots of people who are normal sized think they are fat.