JW: Body Mass Index Fattens Us Up

Alexandra Kim, left, curator of the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, and conservator Maria Jordan, right, hold a pair of bloomers and matching chemise, which once belonged to Britain’s Queen Victoria, as they pose at Kensington Palace, London, Tuesday. Story here . (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

When did sizes 12-14 become “plus sizes?” I have worn size 14 most of my life. Even in high school when I was 112 pounds at 5‘8” I wore a size 14. I had to. I’m built like linebacker with huge shoulders and big bones. My shoulders were a size 16 or 18. My bust line was a size 8 and my hips were size 10-12. There is no such size for those measurements. The best I could do was a size 14. My hipbones in those days rivaled Cher’s. She could have envied me I had so little padding on my bones. There are lots of women out there today wearing size 12 or 14 who are not overweight. Their build demands that size. Not everyone is going to fit in a size 4. I was moderately overweight until the Body Mass Index came along. Then I became obese. I didn’t gain any weight. In point of fact I weigh 22 pounds less than I used to. Now however with the new BMI, I am obese/ Jean Wardwell , Moscow-Pullman Daily News. More here .

Question: Are you satisfied with your body type, size, and weight?