I have been told by multiple people (friends, family and coworkers) that I am getting slim and shouldn't lose much more weight (like maybe 20 more lbs max). I'm at 197 right now and want to hit 130 (and this is my max, I ideally want to get smaller). I'm not even 5 feet tall but a number of people have said that I shouldn't want to lose my "thickness". I don't get it. I can't wrap my head around this obsession with "thickness". At 130 I'd still be considered overweight. I don't even like the way I look right now so it boggles my mind to have people say that I look good this way. Has anyone else experienced this?

This is a common phenomenon in the African-American community.

Many of our peoples' perceptions regarding body image are whacked. In essence, the lower end of the plus sizes (12, 14 and 16) have become the new normal. Anything smaller is "too skinny."

I'm 5'1 and about 120 pounds with a BMI of 22. I like how I look, yet many people in the black community feel I'm too "skinny" and need to become thicker.

On the other hand, my white acquaintances comment that I look healthy and good. In general, obesity is more socially acceptable in the black community.

What matters is your personal goals, your health, and where you want to be.

Don't allow other people to define you. In all likelihood, the people making the comments need to look in the mirror and engage in some self-improvement. Good luck to you.

@LiciKitty Honestly, I've been on both ends of the spectrum. 2013-2014 I weighed 145-150 and I thought I looked too skinny but that was technically slightly overweight for my height. I personally think I'd be happy at 155-160. I like my curves and don't want to lose my tits and ass lol I feel sexy when I have some curves. Also, I'm about 186-187 now but I Love myself more now than I did at 145. I Had maaaaajorrrr body issues when I was around 145. I'm starting to love myself more and more as I lose and I honestly think I'd be happy at 160, but I know I need to be around 145-150 to be healthier.

I also don't think that everyone should go by a chart and judge what is healthy and what isn't because everyone's bodies look totally different. I'm 186 but people think I weigh 165 right now because of the way it's proportioned...I could look totally different than another woman who weighs 186 as well.

It's really about your happiness and where you're happy with what's on the scale and what's in the mirror. Other people's perception of you isn't as important as your own.

Who cares if you're not thick? That doesn't define beauty. It's really crazy that body types like Kim Kardashian or Nicki Minaj have become the definition of beauty or perfect body. Like normal women aren't made like that and alllllll these women are striving for a body like that or think that that is beauty when really, they didn't even come like that...LOL

It's actually really sad that the Kardashians and Jenners have made such an influence in society that they just did a study and said because of them, they have completely made plastic surgery normalized in society and girls that are 16 all the way through their early twenties think that they need plastic surgery in order to achieve a look like those families.

It's crazy that soooo many young women would want to look like other people rather than embracing their natural beauty

JUST DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY. DO YOU BOO! lol

Edited October 19, 20178 yr by sleevedshereen