Hate the term skinny fat
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IDK. Skinny fat seems like an apt term. It applies to people who are a smaller or slender size but have excess body fat, probably around the waist, and not a lot of muscle. It's a term reflecting health more than appearance, IMO.
Seems to me that the objection is more for people who use the term incorrectly rather than the actual term, skinny fat.4 -
danadikay4239 wrote: »My younger sister is "skinny fat". She has normal weight, but when we measured her waist an hips for a sewing pattern, we saw that her waist is one size bigger than the rest of her body. We made one of those Internet tests and if we can believe them, she's "skinny fat". She also has symptoms like tiredness, she has no energy, she's getting dizzy after sports in school. That's not healthy.
I don't think the term "skinny fat" applies on you, like AnvilHead just said. But there are many people this term applies on. So maybe you should just check if you are "skinny fat", because being skinny fat means a lot of health problems, as I could research.
Having your waist be "one size bigger than your hips" just means your body has an apple shape rather than a pear shape. There's absolutely nothing you can do about that! You could just as easily say that the person has "hips one size smaller than their waist".
Being tired and getting dizzy are things to worry about - and would make me suspect inadequate nutrition. If it's not that, it merits a trip to the doctor's office.
But not having the exact proportions that clothing pattern manufacturers deem ideal is *not* a medical problem.19 -
Lillymoo01 wrote: »The term, when used properly is completely valid as pointed out a couple places above. Unfortunately in the health & fitness world many, many terms get used improperly or are individually defined so often, that they become meaningless(*cough*clean eating)
Also why let one small subset of people (body builders) have such an impact on you?
When that one small subset of people think it is their business to shame others for their imperfections rather than encourage and praise for achievements reached it can become a problem. We are all here because we are striving for better health. Encouraging and teaching people to do a mixture of cardio and strength training to encourage fat loss without muscle mass loss is important for this overall health.
Reading through so many of these threads though, you can see that too many are fixated on this ideal. They feel guilty if they have what they consider a cheat meal, they feel embarrassed because they can't accept that their bodies aren't perfect which is totally different than being healthy. There are so many threads about recomp. Are they wanting to do with because of health as they are actually skinny fat, or how about we use the correct medical term rather than the body builders term, metabolically obese normal weight, or they they doing it because of this continual pressure put on us for perfection? Are they continually driving themselves to get fitter and stronger because they are never satisfied with their results?
Health is so much more than just our physical appearance.
Wait, what? I don't understand what you are getting at in your last paragraph. It reads as if you think wanting to recomp is a negative or unhealthy goal. And what's wrong with wanting to get fitter and stronger continually?
I don't consider this to be a bodybuilding site and have no memory of large numbers of the people who do happen to lift (whether specifically for bodybuilding or not) shaming others for their imperfections. If a person asks specific questions they are answered and I don't doubt that there is an *kitten* bodybuilder or two, just as there are *kitten* runners and yogis, but there's your post reads as if there a glut of this activity when there is not.0 -
RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »Lillymoo01 wrote: »gebeziseva wrote: »The term describes people of healthy bmi and obese fat %.
Why are people upset by a term for a specific condition?
I am skinny fat now and the fact that I know what this means makes me NOT being upset by my body shape because I know that I can change my shape by working out a bit (and recomposing my body instead of losing more and more weight). Healthy fat % is important for overall well-being too, not just your bmi.
Because the term is overused rather than being used by correct medical terms. If I had a fat percentage higher than 30% (which is the maximum for an acceptable range for a female) with my current weight that is one thing. I'd still have health problems. However, because I still have a nice healthy supply of fat reserves around my butt, thighs and upper arms many 'gym junkies' would also relate that term to me.
Thinking about it, it is not the term that is the issue, it is the overuse of it to all that don't have that perfectly toned body. It is like we are inferior and unhealthy because we are not striving for a 6 pack and a low body fat %.
Someone had done a remarkable job with weightloss and posted his after photos on this site. He looked good and should have been proud of himself. Someone then had the audacity to mention the words 'skinny fat'. It got my blood boiling because this didn't apply to him in the slightest. He didn't have a perfectly toned body but he was definately fit and healthy and it was obvious that he was exercising while losing weight.
That's awful in the context of a success thread.
However I don't like the phrase Gym junkie either,
I agree. It has a very unhealthy and negative connotation, as the term is commonly used in context with illicit drug users/dealers involved in criminal activity. The phrase "gym junkie" paints people who exercise in a very unfavorable light and could be considered as shaming/ridiculing such people. At least the term "skinny fat" has a factual, objective medical basis and a proper contextual usage.1 -
I can't stand the term skinny fat either. MONW is better but the terminology will never become mainstream. Normal weight people are being shamed with this term for not having the desire to train, eat, or look like a physique athlete. They're not lazy, they just have a different set of priorities and goals. And there are some people who just can't achieve that look without supplementation or possibly steroids. Not worth it IMHO. In my case, I've finally reached a healthy weight, but thanks to tons of loose skin I'm not in a hurry to get removed, I'm going to have that skinny fat look. Oh well.7
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I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that there are other reasons for strength training than obtaining an "ideal physique", namely for the health of your bones and muscle.
I just spent an hour at the nursing home this afternoon - what a depressing place! Many people end up in a nursing home because they no longer have the strength (i.e. muscles) to get on and off the toilet or in and out of bed.
Let 84 yo Ruth Bader Ginsburg be an inspiration to us all: http://www.health.com/fitness/ruth-bader-ginsburg-workout15 -
kshama2001 wrote: »I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that there are other reasons for strength training than obtaining an "ideal physique", namely for the health of your bones and muscle.
I just spent an hour at the nursing home this afternoon - what a depressing place! Many people end up in a nursing home because they no longer have the strength (i.e. muscles) to get on and off the toilet or in and out of bed.
Let 84 yo Ruth Bader Ginsburg be an inspiration to us all: http://www.health.com/fitness/ruth-bader-ginsburg-workout
Of course there are other reasons besides looks. I come from a family where height loss from osteoporosis is unfortunately common. That's one of my motivations for strength training. But I can lift till the cows come home and still look skinny fat for reasons as stated above. And others strength train for health and functional fitness but don't want to take it to the level of a physique athlete. And also don't deserve the title "skinny fat".3 -
Lillymoo01 wrote: »The term, when used properly is completely valid as pointed out a couple places above. Unfortunately in the health & fitness world many, many terms get used improperly or are individually defined so often, that they become meaningless(*cough*clean eating)
Also why let one small subset of people (body builders) have such an impact on you?
When that one small subset of people think it is their business to shame others for their imperfections rather than encourage and praise for achievements reached it can become a problem. We are all here because we are striving for better health. Encouraging and teaching people to do a mixture of cardio and strength training to encourage fat loss without muscle mass loss is important for this overall health.
Reading through so many of these threads though, you can see that too many are fixated on this ideal. They feel guilty if they have what they consider a cheat meal, they feel embarrassed because they can't accept that their bodies aren't perfect which is totally different than being healthy. There are so many threads about recomp. Are they wanting to do with because of health as they are actually skinny fat, or how about we use the correct medical term rather than the body builders term, metabolically obese normal weight, or they they doing it because of this continual pressure put on us for perfection? Are they continually driving themselves to get fitter and stronger because they are never satisfied with their results?
Health is so much more than just our physical appearance.
Wait, what? I don't understand what you are getting at in your last paragraph. It reads as if you think wanting to recomp is a negative or unhealthy goal. And what's wrong with wanting to get fitter and stronger continually?
I don't consider this to be a bodybuilding site and have no memory of large numbers of the people who do happen to lift (whether specifically for bodybuilding or not) shaming others for their imperfections. If a person asks specific questions they are answered and I don't doubt that there is an *asparagus* bodybuilder or two, just as there are *asparagus* runners and yogis, but there's your post reads as if there a glut of this activity when there is not.
Because you have to reach a point where you need to be satisified with where you are at. There is nothing wrong with doing these things if they are being done for the right reasons, for better overall health and wellbeing. We can however push ourselves too far when our health begins to suffer. Too little body fat is also unhealthy. Fatigue of a body that has been pushed to its limits is unhealthy and puts you at greater risk of injury.
You are right that this body shaming does not happen much here but the fact that it did the other day is one time too many. I'd also say that this forum is much better and more supportive than others out there with a general acceptance that there is no one size fits all. My biggest concern is the guilt that people seem to feel about falling short of their goals and the terminology we use that increases that guilt. Cheat days and fat skinny are just two commonly used. No one should ever feel guilty about not being perfect.5 -
RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »Lillymoo01 wrote: »gebeziseva wrote: »The term describes people of healthy bmi and obese fat %.
Why are people upset by a term for a specific condition?
I am skinny fat now and the fact that I know what this means makes me NOT being upset by my body shape because I know that I can change my shape by working out a bit (and recomposing my body instead of losing more and more weight). Healthy fat % is important for overall well-being too, not just your bmi.
Because the term is overused rather than being used by correct medical terms. If I had a fat percentage higher than 30% (which is the maximum for an acceptable range for a female) with my current weight that is one thing. I'd still have health problems. However, because I still have a nice healthy supply of fat reserves around my butt, thighs and upper arms many 'gym junkies' would also relate that term to me.
Thinking about it, it is not the term that is the issue, it is the overuse of it to all that don't have that perfectly toned body. It is like we are inferior and unhealthy because we are not striving for a 6 pack and a low body fat %.
Someone had done a remarkable job with weightloss and posted his after photos on this site. He looked good and should have been proud of himself. Someone then had the audacity to mention the words 'skinny fat'. It got my blood boiling because this didn't apply to him in the slightest. He didn't have a perfectly toned body but he was definately fit and healthy and it was obvious that he was exercising while losing weight.
That's awful in the context of a success thread.
However I don't like the phrase Gym junkie either,
Sorry I should have termed it more appropriately as there is definately a negative connotation that I didn't think about when writing it. Going to the gym is a healthy part of wellbeing if it works for you. Nothing negative about that at all. I should have phrased it as those that spend exessive amounts of time working out at the expense of other important things.1 -
Lillymoo01 wrote: »Lillymoo01 wrote: »The term, when used properly is completely valid as pointed out a couple places above. Unfortunately in the health & fitness world many, many terms get used improperly or are individually defined so often, that they become meaningless(*cough*clean eating)
Also why let one small subset of people (body builders) have such an impact on you?
When that one small subset of people think it is their business to shame others for their imperfections rather than encourage and praise for achievements reached it can become a problem. We are all here because we are striving for better health. Encouraging and teaching people to do a mixture of cardio and strength training to encourage fat loss without muscle mass loss is important for this overall health.
Reading through so many of these threads though, you can see that too many are fixated on this ideal. They feel guilty if they have what they consider a cheat meal, they feel embarrassed because they can't accept that their bodies aren't perfect which is totally different than being healthy. There are so many threads about recomp. Are they wanting to do with because of health as they are actually skinny fat, or how about we use the correct medical term rather than the body builders term, metabolically obese normal weight, or they they doing it because of this continual pressure put on us for perfection? Are they continually driving themselves to get fitter and stronger because they are never satisfied with their results?
Health is so much more than just our physical appearance.
Wait, what? I don't understand what you are getting at in your last paragraph. It reads as if you think wanting to recomp is a negative or unhealthy goal. And what's wrong with wanting to get fitter and stronger continually?
I don't consider this to be a bodybuilding site and have no memory of large numbers of the people who do happen to lift (whether specifically for bodybuilding or not) shaming others for their imperfections. If a person asks specific questions they are answered and I don't doubt that there is an *asparagus* bodybuilder or two, just as there are *asparagus* runners and yogis, but there's your post reads as if there a glut of this activity when there is not.
Because you have to reach a point where you need to be satisified with where you are at. There is nothing wrong with doing these things if they are being done for the right reasons, for better overall health and wellbeing. We can however push ourselves too far when our health begins to suffer. Too little body fat is also unhealthy. Fatigue of a body that has been pushed to its limits is unhealthy and puts you at greater risk of injury.
You are right that this body shaming does not happen much here but the fact that it did the other day is one time too many. I'd also say that this forum is much better and more supportive than others out there with a general acceptance that there is no one size fits all. My biggest concern is the guilt that people seem to feel about falling short of their goals and the terminology we use that increases that guilt. Cheat days and fat skinny are just two commonly used. No one should ever feel guilty about not being perfect.
To be fair though, you've managed to shame a lot of other people in order to make your point - bodybuilders, people who do cheat meals, people who are recomping.
I agree that skinny-fat Is overused as an insult for people deemed "not fit enough". But putting down other people's goals isn't so nice either. Striving to better yourself is an awesome goal in my book. It is totally possible to be happy with your body but still want to improve, or reach new fitness goals.
Personally, I hope I always have a fitness goal I'm striving for. Luckily I have a ways to go before anyone will be accusing me of trying to be too fit lol
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I've seen the term used mostly like "If you don't lift weights while losing weight, you'll end up skinny fat".
It's like it's almost inevitable for us poor shmucks who never set foot inside a gym....7 -
How have I shamed people who do cheat meals by saying they should not feel guilty about having a treat every now and then? I said that they should not feel guilty because they do this which I believe is the opposite of shaming.
There is nothing wrong with people having goals with their health and fitness and I apologise if it came off that way. There is nothing wrong with people wanting to recomp or bodybuild to better themselves and their health. This is actually something to admire and I hate that it came across as anything differently. All I have problems with is people thinking that they need to do these things to reach some sort of ideal and perfection rather than be content with being fit and healthy. I have problems with misused terminology which basically shames people who don’t fit into this certain mold.
The very fact that you are happy with what you have but want to improve is a really healthy attitude. You are not doing the improvements to find this happiness or because you feel embarrassed because of imperfections.Lillymoo01 wrote: »Lillymoo01 wrote: »The term, when used properly is completely valid as pointed out a couple places above. Unfortunately in the health & fitness world many, many terms get used improperly or are individually defined so often, that they become meaningless(*cough*clean eating)
Also why let one small subset of people (body builders) have such an impact on you?
When that one small subset of people think it is their business to shame others for their imperfections rather than encourage and praise for achievements reached it can become a problem. We are all here because we are striving for better health. Encouraging and teaching people to do a mixture of cardio and strength training to encourage fat loss without muscle mass loss is important for this overall health.
Reading through so many of these threads though, you can see that too many are fixated on this ideal. They feel guilty if they have what they consider a cheat meal, they feel embarrassed because they can't accept that their bodies aren't perfect which is totally different than being healthy. There are so many threads about recomp. Are they wanting to do with because of health as they are actually skinny fat, or how about we use the correct medical term rather than the body builders term, metabolically obese normal weight, or they they doing it because of this continual pressure put on us for perfection? Are they continually driving themselves to get fitter and stronger because they are never satisfied with their results?
Health is so much more than just our physical appearance.
Wait, what? I don't understand what you are getting at in your last paragraph. It reads as if you think wanting to recomp is a negative or unhealthy goal. And what's wrong with wanting to get fitter and stronger continually?
I don't consider this to be a bodybuilding site and have no memory of large numbers of the people who do happen to lift (whether specifically for bodybuilding or not) shaming others for their imperfections. If a person asks specific questions they are answered and I don't doubt that there is an *asparagus* bodybuilder or two, just as there are *asparagus* runners and yogis, but there's your post reads as if there a glut of this activity when there is not.
Because you have to reach a point where you need to be satisified with where you are at. There is nothing wrong with doing these things if they are being done for the right reasons, for better overall health and wellbeing. We can however push ourselves too far when our health begins to suffer. Too little body fat is also unhealthy. Fatigue of a body that has been pushed to its limits is unhealthy and puts you at greater risk of injury.
You are right that this body shaming does not happen much here but the fact that it did the other day is one time too many. I'd also say that this forum is much better and more supportive than others out there with a general acceptance that there is no one size fits all. My biggest concern is the guilt that people seem to feel about falling short of their goals and the terminology we use that increases that guilt. Cheat days and fat skinny are just two commonly used. No one should ever feel guilty about not being perfect.
To be fair though, you've managed to shame a lot of other people in order to make your point - bodybuilders, people who do cheat meals, people who are recomping.
I agree that skinny-fat Is overused as an insult for people deemed "not fit enough". But putting down other people's goals isn't so nice either. Striving to better yourself is an awesome goal in my book. It is totally possible to be happy with your body but still want to improve, or reach new fitness goals.
Personally, I hope I always have a fitness goal I'm striving for. Luckily I have a ways to go before anyone will be accusing me of trying to be too fit lol
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I agree. A while back a very young girl with a nice figure posted a photo of herself. She was far from being overweight, but had a small belly pooch, and I do mean small. Right away the term skinny fat was used repeatedly about her. When I objected, I was piled up on by several of the regular posters here.
First, I think it is a term used much too loosely by the bodybuilding crowd and on MFP. If you’re assessing someone’s muscle or absence of muscle just by eye, the judgment is in the eye of the beholder. Not everyone wants that look of “oh, she lifts”. Some of us would rather hear “oh, she has a nice figure.”
There is nothing wrong with either goal, and is up to the individual how they would like to look.
Second, I think it is another term out there to just make people feel like crap about themselves.
3rd. The true term, if used correctly, means a person looks thin with their clothes on, but may carry fat around their organs, which is dangerous and invites disease. It shouldn’t be used to determine how much muscle or bulk you are carrying from an asthetic point. Eyes of the beholder.10 -
gebeziseva wrote: »The term describes people of healthy bmi and obese fat %.
Why are people upset by a term for a specific condition?
I am skinny fat now and the fact that I know what this means makes me NOT being upset by my body shape because I know that I can change my shape by working out a bit (and recomposing my body instead of losing more and more weight). Healthy fat % is important for overall well-being too, not just your bmi.
Because I’ve seen it repeatedly used on these boards to describe someone that is not remotely in that category. As in, you are at a healthy weight. You don’t have a lot of visible fat deposits, but because you don’t look “muscle-y”, then you need to “lift heavy” to get “un-skinny fat.”
By the way. I believe everyone benefits from some form of resistance training, and I do body weight routines for this purpose, but I think the term is thrown around too freely.
I even had someone respond to one of my strength training posts in my feed saying, you’ll be skinny fat no more!!
Totally overused phrase.5 -
Zombiethread?
I hate the term too. Calling anybody "fat" is cruel given how the term "fat" is culturally known, used and felt. Fat as a noun, sure, that's a thing. CALLING someone fat, even as half a phrase? Snark City.
Skinny fat sounds passive aggressive and yes, feels shaming. And how is there a "medical" or clinical application for the "skinny" part? "Skinny" is a clinical term? When did that happen? Even this "skinny" part is jerkwad-ish, let's face it.
And "skinny fat" doesn't necessarily apply to someone who is UNDERweight (I.e. "skinny" ), correct? So how on earth is this a "medically" correct word at all? If I t doesn't only apply to people who actually are "skinny" then there really is no part of it that has any medical merit...because in that case even as a coarse way of describing someone it still isn't correct. So the good application for this is what, again...?
It's a snark, pure and simple. And not a very clever one, either. But it seems to elicit the same shrieks of sheeple delight as "snowflake," "butthurt" and "slow your roll," so... here to stay, folks, here to stay.
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NVM. Seems that a few months ago I already said what I was going to say!
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I resurrected an old thread cause someone said skinny fat in my presence today and I had a rant in me. Sorry. Not sorry.9
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frankiesgirlie wrote: »I resurrected an old thread cause someone said skinny fat in my presence today and I had a rant in me. Sorry. Not sorry.
Thanks for that, it's been a good read, and I enjoyed everyone's contribution. Cheers.2 -
Sometimes people just like to one up each other. It’s like seeing someone meet their weight goal triggers a kind of jealousy so you gotta find /something/ to shame that person about to repair your own ego. So you know, “who cares if they met their weight goal - they’re skinny fat and clearly aren’t working as hard as I am”3
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I agree that the term is almost criminally misused, and it does bug. It has its place if you're going to use the medical application of the term, because then it's a health issue. But the people using the term usually aren't doing that.
I don't mind this zombie thread being raised. I've seen this come up recently when someone misused the phrase and it annoyed me then.5
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