What's the best term for fat?

It really is a no win situation. It's like trying to refer to a person's ethnicity, you will always find someone offended at your description.

Hallelujah! Instead of
The short mexican girl who's kind of chubby with long black hair and laughs a lot with the black boyfriend and chinese neighbor. You have to say.
The petite exotic woman, who's only petite in height and has gorgeous long dark hair but is a little unprofessional sometimes in her behavior and dates an african american and lives next door to the asian fellow.

I mean how does vagueness win? Not only does it take longer to say and write, it's vague and I'd rather know the girl is mexican versus say argentinian or honduran, or that her neighbor is black because he may NOT be african american he may be straight from africa last week or england or whatnot and I would know not to invite my gorgeous friend from the same country so as not to spark jealousy, and the asian guy might or might not be someone I'd be interested in meeting depending on whether he's japanese, or korean or chinese or thai right? I might have great things to talk about with one person from one country I just visited or whose food i just learned to cook, or whose country my company is thinking of expanding in and that could decide whether I attend the party or meeting or whatnot. Not trying to make enemies. Just sayin'. I like specifics. Vagueness sucks.

Personally regarding fat, I say, "since I got fat", or "when I wasn't fat" things like that. Even though I'd like to use the term obese because it's accurate I would only use it in the Dr's office because in real life I can blow through the fat term and speed right along, but in real life people can't really for some reason really SEE that I'm actually at the obese point cause I'm just inside that range so it causes an uproar, and next thing you know someone's taking me under their wing and giving me unsolicited pointers. When using "fat" I feel I convey that I have a good handle on reality and my situation and therefore need no advice, thanks.

"great personality"

Hahahahaha made me laught:p i think thats like the meanest one-.- I know tons of overweight people who are absolutely gorgeous!
I like chubby cause its cute!

Buxom

Overweight.

This, it's politically correct.

"must be bulking"

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Overall this thread is a winner. Some of these are hilarious. I would say overweight, hence having a high fat percentage. I feel guilty using the word fat around someone very overweight but it's natural in conversation. As a woman, I hate when women call themselves curvy. It's like rationalizing being overweight. Also, BMI-normous is my favorite so far!

"Let me introduce...." or "This is..." I don't normally give great directions, so I just show them and introduce the person.

I like voluptuous or curvy for myself.
I call myself curvy all the time. But I know that I am. I lose weight on my waist and face first, which means waist gets small, but the T & A stay large which gives me all kinds of curves... hahaha :laugh:

I have been called voluptuous many times....

Cornfed or thick

When I am trying to describe a fat person at work to someone I will say something like "the bigger lady with the short blonde hair" or something like that.

Same. I tend to use "bigger" or just "big."

Big, bigger, heavyset, and full-figured are my polite generic go-tos. For friends (who I can be a little more casual with), I might say plump, chubby, fat, or well-upholstered. I particularly like the last one.

ETA: I suppose it goes without saying, but this is only in contextually appropriate situations. I try to mind my own business and let others mind theirs for the most part.

Wow, I'm surprised at how many people said "fluffy" I would MUCH prefer to be called fat over fluffy. I think that's insulting to try and sugar it up. I also get annoyed when I refer to myself as fat and the people around me deny it, like I was fishing for reassurance. Stating a fact. Fat is fat. Now if someone points it out when it's completely out of context and unnecessary, then that's rude. It's all in the meaning and purpose of saying it.

This. I'm fat, that's all there is to it.

I just poke them in the belly. Actions speak louder than words, no?

My mom is overweight and she uses the term "fluffy", but like most of you have said, I find the term fluffy to be worse that fat or overweight or others. But for some reason "fluffy" makes her feel better.

I just use whatever flows out... I'm done with trying to not offend people. If you're fat, you know you're fat, deal with it. If you're OFFENDED by someone calling you fat, then go do something about it or be quiet.

Same goes with ugly, smelly, stupid, etc etc.

The world has gotten too cushy.

ETA: I am most definitely not attacking you, OP... I liked reading your post