Size 14 women are happiest?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lifestyle/ Size_14_women_are_the_happiest/articleshow/39 14522.cms

I know it's not true for me, I was MUCH happier as a size 8/10.

What do you all think?

i think you can be happy or unhappy at any size

i think happiness is largely a choice about what perspective you want to take with life

:)

Personal thing, 1 person can be happy at a size another not, happiness is in your hands. :)

I find i'm happiest now at size 10 because I really wanted to get back to being that size,happiness is about reaching your goal,it can't be one common size

I can't access the link, but remember that studies that make claims like that are saying that across a population, their claim is true. They are absolutely not saying that everyone- or even most people- are happy at a size 14...they are just saying that, on average, women at a size 14 tend to be happier than women at another size. And they are also not saying that if your size changes, your happiness changes.  

Well, being a size 14, I can attest that I am not happy with my weight.  I don't care what the size (number) turns out to be, I just want to rid my body of the hideous rolls across my back and stomach. 

Original Post by nomoreexcuses:

i think you can be happy or unhappy at any size

i think happiness is largely a choice about what perspective you want to take with life

:)

 

Nicely put. I agree. When i was a size 4 (my lowest) i was still not happy so i don't think size has anything to do with it. its how you view yourself.

A better question might be are happy people generally healthier. I bet they are. :)

Good points all! I thought it was an interesting read and good for a discussion.

You are likely right kathygator.

I also think it depends on the question. I mean if someone asked me if I am happy -- yes I am.  I have a great bf, family, a wonderful circle of friends, a job I love in an excellent workplace, I am lucky enough to be able to pursue my horse passion

I am not unhappy overall with my life and wouldn't be no matter what size I am.

I AM, however, unhappy with my size at the moment...and I am a size 14.

I do also feel that I cannot do all the things I want to do the way I want to do them because I am too big so I think smaller and fitter I would be happier even though I would describe myself as happy still.

Happiness is a state of mind, not a state of body.

Original Post by nbkelly:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lifestyle/ Size_14_women_are_the_happiest/articleshow/39 14522.cms

I know it's not true for me, I was MUCH happier as a size 8/10.

What do you all think?

First, the link above seems to be broken: here's another one.

It's worth mentioning that the study was English, meaning they are using UK sizes, and a 14 there is about a 12 or loosely cut 10 in North America. Also there is a bit less of a cult of thinness in England.

I think I'd be happy enough in an English size 14. My goal is about a 10 US (currently at a US 12-14). Then again I am tall, and if I were average height I might want to be at a smaller size. Thing is, at an English size 14, chances are you aren't very overweight, let alone obese. Yet you don't have to restrict your lifestyle so much.

You can be happy or unhappy at any weight. I can see if someone were in a higher number in pants getting down to 14 and being happy because they made it that far. Other women who may be that size may be happy with their curves at that number.

We all have that special number we are comfortable in it doesn't necessarily have to be a size 14..and of course we all have our bad days, Haha.

Original Post by silentdeadlyrose:

You can be happy or unhappy at any weight. I can see if someone were in a higher number in pants getting down to 14 and being happy because they made it that far. Other women who may be that size may be happy with their curves at that number.

We all have that special number we are comfortable in it doesn't necessarily have to be a size 14..and of course we all have our bad days, Haha.

Absolutely true. There is so much more than the size of one's ass that determines how happy or unhappy we are. And if there isn't, then we haven't really been living very much and we need to change that!

I'm a UK size 14 (size 8-10 US) and, yeah, I'm pretty happy.  Happier than I was when I was a US size 14 (size 18-20 UK).  The main source of increased happiness is that I feel healthier and more confident; I don't anticipate losing the next couple of dress sizes to have the same impact on me. 

Also, the point made earlier was important.  This means that women at size 14 are generally happier than other women at size xx - not that a particular women is necessarily happiest at size 14.  (I expect to be just as happy at UK size 12 - but probably not MORE happy.)

Original Post by susiecue:

I'm a UK size 14 (size 8-10 US) and, yeah, I'm pretty happy. Happier than I was when I was a US size 14 (size 18-20 UK). The main source of increased happiness is that I feel healthier and more confident; I don't anticipate losing the next couple of dress sizes to have the same impact on me.

Susiecue, is it that much of a difference (14 UK = 8-10 US)? The dress size comparison charts said a UK 14 was a US 12, and I figured that with vanity sizing it was probably more like a 10-12, but is it really an 8-10?

interestingly when i was a size 14 (US) i was happy, but once i started losing weight, and especially once i got into my size 12 jeans, i realized that while i was happy i was not being totally honest with myself about my size/weight gain. i think that if i ever gain that weight back i will definitly not be happy, at least i hope i don't lie to myself like that again. 

SO not true.  I'm miserable.

Sigh.

Anyone want to take a basic research methods class? No?

Sigh.

Original Post by trustwomen:

Susiecue, is it that much of a difference (14 UK = 8-10 US)? The dress size comparison charts said a UK 14 was a US 12, and I figured that with vanity sizing it was probably more like a 10-12, but is it really an 8-10?

Unless things have changed *very* recently, it really is.  For years, I went home to visit my parents in Scotland every Christmas, and the clothes I would buy there were typically numbered 2 or 4 larger than what I got in Canada.  When I cross-border shopped to the US, on the other hand, I'd be buying sizes numbered 2 to 4 *smaller* than what I got in Canada.  (Canadian sizes have since dropped to match the US ones.)

I put no value whatsoever in official size charts because they always tell you you're bigger than you really are.  My theory is that they assume every woman pulls the measuring tape as tightly as humanly possible so she's majorly underestimating her measurements.  If you measure right, you're always at least 2 numbers smaller than what a US catalogue size chart says.

My favourite kilt?  Size 18 UK.  I now fit it perfectly again.  My new jeans?  Size 8 US.  Anecdotal?  Yep.  But I've done enough shopping on both sides of the Atlantic to be pretty sure that the actual difference is 4-6 sizes in most cases (the kilt came from a high end store in Edinburgh that tended to size small).  If I had to guess for ordering clothes online, I'd just add 4 to the US size but it'd just be an estimate (and that's why I don't buy clothes online; too hard to guess sizes accurately).

A person can be happy at ANY size as long as they love themselves. I am not happy with my size because I just can't 'love' myself at this weight. I'm sure if I were to be a 14 right now, I would be happy for now... but I'd still want to keep going down... I won't ever be truly happy till I love myself unconditionally. And this probably goes for many people in the world.

I started off as a size 14 and I wasn't happy. I was always lazy and lethargic from all the overeating and from all the junk food. Now I'm a size 4 and I feel much better. Not because of the size itself, but it does reflect the fact that I've been eating much less and much healthier.