# Would you date a BBW? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 14, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711 "2014-03-14T19:39:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Inna\_Minnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Inna\_Minnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inna_Minnit)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/21 "2014-03-14T20:55:25Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > I agree. Typically I find that women \<200lbs try to downplay their weight in descriptions. Once they get past, say, 250 lbs, they’re more likely to call themselves a ‘BBW’ and go full bore in the other direction “I don’t care that I’m fat” “weight doesn’t matter” “I’m beautiful no matter what”. Fine platitudes, but it always tends to sound a little delusional to me. I am beautiful. No qualifiers needed. And not the least delusional. That YOU don’t like some body types does NOT mean that you get to declare their worth. ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/22 "2014-03-14T20:59:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Positive aspects of a fat woman who is comfortable in her skin? She doesn’t obsess over what people think of her. She knows there are a lot of guys like the OP. Shallow and self absorbed. Being comfortable in my skin makes me comfortable with my guy. It’s not for nothing that big girls have the reputation of being fun to mambo with. You’re under the misconception that human qualities are a zero-sum game and that fat women don’t obsess over what people think of them (as opposed to what, a proportionally-thin woman magically being self-conscious because she’s thin? 😛 ). Plenty of conventionally attractive women are self confident and fun to mambo with. So what does a fat woman offer that a conventionally attractive can’t? If I value overall intelligence and personality, wouldn’t it make sense I would value it in a way that people are using it to take care of themselves? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/23 "2014-03-14T20:59:32Z")
> [@bup](#): > > (What does BBW stand for?) Bleach Blonde Widow Beer-Bellied Welder Blizzard-Braving Wisconsinite Black Belt Wrestler Beached Beluga Whale ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/24 "2014-03-14T21:07:29Z")
I’m sorry. I voted no, but I thought it stood for Bald-headed Bearded Woman. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/25 "2014-03-14T21:17:49Z")
No; over-weight is a deal-breaker for me. Not skinny and malnourished, either, but I like a woman to be lean, athletic and toned: Anna Ivanovic is probably the hottest woman on the planet. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/26 "2014-03-14T21:24:24Z")
Slim, butch (but, sometimes annoyingly, looks femme) lesbian weighing in here, no pun intended: I think I must not have a physical type, but only an intellectual, humor, and emotional type. I do tend to give BBW a second glance, though, because their bodies look sexy to me. But when I look back at my lovers (not that there were THAT many), I see that I’ll date anyone who’s sweet and will make me laugh. If they’re curvy, then all the better. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/27 "2014-03-14T21:25:20Z")
No. Just as the majority of women (in Western society, anyhow) aren’t attracted to men who are shorter than they are, I’m not attracted to women that are larger or bulkier than me. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/28 "2014-03-14T21:26:32Z")
Never say never, of course, but I doubt it because I’m just not attracted to that look. There are a lot of value judgments in the OP that aren’t nearly universally true in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/29 "2014-03-14T21:28:03Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > No; over-weight is a deal-breaker for me. Not skinny and malnourished, either, but I like a woman to be lean, athletic and toned: Anna Ivanovic is probably the hottest woman on the planet. I agree she is quite attractive. ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/30 "2014-03-14T21:43:41Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > No. Just as the majority of women (in Western society, anyhow) aren’t attracted to men who are shorter than they are, I’m not attracted to women that are larger or bulkier than me. I’m not short, but I feel more sympathetic for short guys vs fat women because there’s only so much a short guy could do to offset his appearance (wear lifts? get a hi-top fade? 😛 ). A person who is overweight can, if motivated, change their appearance. If a fat woman is complaining that society judges her for her weight and feels adversely affected by it, she can do more to rectify the situation than a short guy can. Of course everyone has their preferences. But everyday people now are getting to the point (at least in the US) where they could pass off as circus attractions 150 years ago. A third of all americans are obese. It still carries a stigma, but I am a little curious if there is more or less of a stigma about obese women in other countries. Many countries in Europe, for example, have far lower rates of obesity in women than the US does. Would you say people there are more or less into BBWs? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/31 "2014-03-14T21:56:08Z")
This term is so loaded and vague as to mean nothing. It can mean from 140 lbs up to 400+ pounds. These “plus size models” that show in the news every few months in the “OMG they have a fat model” stories are usually skinny to average. Marilyn Monroe was skinny as hell. So not sure what people mean in these cases. In the porn world, it can range, just like “MILF” can mean that she’s 28. Thus it depends. I agree with some above: anybody who actually calls themselves BBW (worse than being called that) is probably not my type, for all the physical and social implications (especially if paired with “sassy”). Same with “voluptuous.” I believe most guys have a huge disconnect between what they actually like and what they’d admit to your friends. If you reject a pretty woman who is 155 or even more then you’re stupid. Christina Hendricks sometimes gets thrown about. Get your eyes checked if you kick her out of your bed. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/32 "2014-03-14T22:02:46Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > This term is so loaded and vague as to mean nothing. It can mean from 140 lbs up to 400+ pounds. These “plus size models” that show in the news every few months in the “OMG they have a fat model” stories are usually skinny to average. Marilyn Monroe was skinny as hell. So not sure what people mean in these cases. In the porn world, it can range, just like “MILF” can mean that she’s 28. Thus it depends. I agree with some above: anybody who actually calls themselves BBW (worse than being called that) is probably not my type, for all the physical and social implications (especially if paired with “sassy”). Same with “voluptuous.” > > I believe most guys have a huge disconnect between what they actually like and what they’d admit to your friends. If you reject a pretty woman who is 155 or even more then you’re stupid. Christina Hendricks sometimes gets thrown about. Get your eyes checked if you kick her out of your bed. Damn. Why so bitter? I like what I like and I have no problem “admitting” that to my friends if it ever came up in conversation. Christina Hendricks has a beautiful face and I love red hair but she’s not my type at all. I am not attracted to her (not that she would even begin to give a shit) and my eyes are just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/33 "2014-03-14T22:07:47Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > This term is so loaded and vague as to mean nothing. It can mean from 140 lbs up to 400+ pounds. These “plus size models” that show in the news every few months in the “OMG they have a fat model” stories are usually skinny to average. Marilyn Monroe was skinny as hell. So not sure what people mean in these cases. In the porn world, it can range, just like “MILF” can mean that she’s 28. Thus it depends. I agree with some above: anybody who actually calls themselves BBW (worse than being called that) is probably not my type, for all the physical and social implications (especially if paired with “sassy”). Same with “voluptuous.” > > I believe most guys have a huge disconnect between what they actually like and what they’d admit to your friends. If you reject a pretty woman who is 155 or even more then you’re stupid. Christina Hendricks sometimes gets thrown about. Get your eyes checked if you kick her out of your bed. In my personal observations, the women that tend to refer to themselves as ‘BBW’ tend to be very fat (as in 5’2" and 250 lbs, which basically 2x women of average BMI). I really doubt Christina Hendricks would consider herself a ‘BBW’. And the thread’s question was, “Would you _date_ a BBW?” as in, have an ongoing relationship. Not “Would you have sex with one”. I’m sure a % of men that wouldn’t date a BBW would be willing to have sex with one. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/34 "2014-03-14T23:11:00Z")
It seems like every fat/obese woman I know has a husband or boyfriend or recently had a husband or a boyfriend. Everywhere I go I see fat ladies hanging off the arms of guys. So obviously there are plenty of guys who love them some plus-sized ladies. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/35 "2014-03-14T23:13:49Z")
I’ve dated and married fat women, but they certainly weren’t proud of being fat and would have been offended to be called BBW. Also, if you are into fat chicks because you think it will be easier to relax with them and be less threatened by hypergamy or whatever you want to call it, that hasn’t been my experience. A fat chick will still cheat on you with vapid himbos and/or feel entitled to marry a prince or whatever standard thin chicks aspire to. And, of course, the opposite can hold true as well. I don’t think there’s anything you could generalize about the personality of a woman because of her body size. All the ranges of personalities of represented. Just as a fat slovenly dude can be just as much of a jerk as Bachelor Don Juan Pablo or whatever that guy’s name is. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/36 "2014-03-14T23:15:08Z")
> [@bup](#): > > (What does BBW stand for?) bounce back woman ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Accident](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Mr.Accident](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Accident)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/37 "2014-03-14T23:17:28Z")
Engaged to one now and never been happier. She’s the complete opposite of everything I’ve looked for in a woman. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/38 "2014-03-14T23:23:50Z")
Voted no, but without the ugh. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/39 "2014-03-14T23:35:14Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > It seems like every fat/obese woman I know has a husband or boyfriend or recently had a husband or a boyfriend. Everywhere I go I see fat ladies hanging off the arms of guys. So obviously there are plenty of guys who love them some plus-sized ladies. Um, yeah. That’s pretty fucking obvious given that at the time that I am writing this nearly half of the people in this thread have voted “Yes!”. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/40 "2014-03-14T23:43:02Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Damn. Why so bitter? I like what I like and I have no problem “admitting” that to my friends if it ever came up in conversation. Christina Hendricks has a beautiful face and I love red hair but she’s not my type at all. I am not attracted to her (not that she would even begin to give a shit) and my eyes are just fine. What’s this about you? You’ve never heard a guy(s), no big catch themselves, complain about some [minor flaw](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/210-would-not-bang) in a woman? > [@Incubus](#): > > In my personal observations, the women that tend to refer to themselves as ‘BBW’ tend to be very fat (as in 5’2" and 250 lbs, which basically 2x women of average BMI). I really doubt Christina Hendricks would consider herself a ‘BBW’. I’ve never heard a person use it in real life except on the internet, and rarely outside of porn or maybe dating sites. Lots of other self-deprecating or often-negative-but-proud-here terms, but not that one. And as this thread (anecdotally) indicates, it’s not a widespread term. The point is: I don’t believe there is much meaning to the terms that people use as it may vary drastically; for some many are synonymous, for some there might be categories. Half the stories about Hendricks have to make it out to be how she’s special for not conforming to Hollywood beauty. I’d she she weighs more than the average woman, but half her weight is in her chest. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711.md?page=3)