# Do you notice when someone's gained weight? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 15, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-notice-when-someones-gained-weight/539579 "2010-05-15T21:13:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-notice-when-someones-gained-weight/539579/21 "2010-05-16T16:33:14Z")
If it’s more than 10 pounds, I notice. Ditto for lost weight. ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-notice-when-someones-gained-weight/539579/22 "2010-05-16T16:43:29Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > In any case, what you wear and how it fits will have much more of an effect on how you look than the 5 pounds will. Pick something flattering and don’t think twice about it. This seems right to me. I also really don’t think it’s a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I have trouble convincing myself of this too sometimes because all my life I’ve received the message (not least from my parents, in direct terms) that more weight = less attractive. But I think barring extremes the most important part of attractiveness is confidence. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-notice-when-someones-gained-weight/539579/23 "2010-05-16T19:30:28Z")
I wouldn’t notice 5 pounds. On myself, sure, but not on other people. I fluctuate about 3-5 pounds in any given month, depending on my menstrual cycle, and I seriously doubt anyone notices, though. I can still fit into my skinniest of jeans, although they do get a little tighter. I have a _very_ hard time believing someone can always tell if any other person has gained 5 pounds, a la **lindsay**. That seems a little excessive. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-notice-when-someones-gained-weight/539579/24 "2010-05-16T20:24:02Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Cite, other than a Kotex box? I’ve seen 2-3 pounds, but not 4-5. What kind of cite? I probably can’t give you an abstract with my numbers any more than you could find one for yours (weight gain caused by pms doesn’t seem to have been studied much), but if you want random health sites with the number, sure. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-notice-when-someones-gained-weight/539579/25 "2010-05-16T23:11:16Z")
Follow-up: I attended an 80s prom theme party last night. Rocked the dress and felt fantastic about myself! Thanks for the comments. ---
**Author:** ![Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamaika_a_jamaikaiake)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-notice-when-someones-gained-weight/539579/26 "2010-05-17T02:02:45Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > Would you notice five pounds? Seeing as my weight fluctuates _more_ than 5 pounds during a day\*, no. Absolutely impossible. \*We were staying at my mother-in-law’s house recently, and she has a fancy electric scale in the kitchen, and so I was weighing myself every time I passed for fun. ---
**Author:** ![lshaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e36b37/32.png) [@lshaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lshaw)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-notice-when-someones-gained-weight/539579/27 "2010-05-17T10:52:37Z")
I notice if the weight gain goes to the face. Otherwise, it depends on the person’s original size and the frequency with which I see that person. If I saw the person all the time, I probably wouldn’t notice the weight gain unless it was somewhat dramatic. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-notice-when-someones-gained-weight/539579/28 "2010-05-17T14:17:46Z")
> [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](#): > > Seeing as my weight fluctuates _more_ than 5 pounds during a day\*, no. Absolutely impossible. > > \*We were staying at my mother-in-law’s house recently, and she has a fancy electric scale in the kitchen, and so I was weighing myself every time I passed for fun. Yes, but if someone’s daily range goes from 110-115 to 115-120, I suspect it would be noticeable–though not in a bad way, unless they were very very short. And I think most people would think of that as a 5 lb gain, not a 10 lb gain. On the other hand, a daily range of 160-165 shifting to 165-170 would not be nearly as noticeable. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-notice-when-someones-gained-weight/539579/29 "2010-05-17T16:59:57Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > Yes, but if someone’s daily range goes from 110-115 to 115-120, I suspect it would be noticeable–though not in a bad way, unless they were very very short. And I think most people would think of that as a 5 lb gain, not a 10 lb gain. > > On the other hand, a daily range of 160-165 shifting to 165-170 would not be nearly as noticeable. I guess that this is what I was getting at. I’m 5’2, so I feel that a five-pound gain is quite apparent. It basically shows up in my boobs (not so bad) and belly (which sucks, but isn’t that hard to hide.) A good guy friend of mine once said that I could weigh 105 to 120 and he probably wouldn’t even notice…he might have just been trying to shut me up, though! I knew what he meant, however; guys just don’t give that much of a shit and don’t really notice as much as we think they do! : ) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-notice-when-someones-gained-weight/539579.md?page=1)