# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/121 "2014-10-15T15:02:07Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > He never said that the relationships didn’t work out. Yeah- I think the point of mentioning that his son was happily married was because he wasn’t even looking for a relationship, while the other band members were single at the point that they started playing the fat chick clubs, and their conception of attractiveness changed due to exposure at the venues they play at. I never read it as meaning that his son had a successful relationship with the big women and the other guys didn’t. As for the OP, sure I’d date a big girl. Married one, in fact. But there’s a lot of latitude in the term “BBW”. It could mean anything from morbidly obese and having to ride a scooter, to being just a hair past “overweight” on the BMI charts and looking like Adele or Delta Burke in her Designing Women days. I tend toward the thinner end of that spectrum, but to be honest, I prefer that to say… Cameron Diaz’s super-toned and thin look. I just get the impression she’d be all elbows and knees in the sack. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/122 "2014-10-16T00:09:13Z")
I find Nigella Lawson extremely attractive. Much larger than that might take a little getting used to, but I could be persuaded. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/123 "2014-10-16T00:20:30Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > I find Nigella Lawson extremely attractive. Much larger than that might take a little getting used to, but I could be persuaded. Is that a joke? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/124 "2014-10-16T00:22:06Z")
What does BBW mean exactly? Like what sizes weight,height are we talking about? I guess this sounds harsh but I guess for me it has something to do with the way they carry it. Anyway, I’m taken so all I can do is try to think back to when I was dating many years ago. . . . . .Sorry ladies. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/125 "2014-10-16T00:25:54Z")
Nigella Lawson is not even close to being a BBW. That’s just ridiculous. What next, is someone gonna come in and say “Yeah that Marilyn Monroe, she was a pretty good looking BBW”? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/126 "2014-10-16T03:30:55Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > I would not date a BBW nor a Mercedes. BBW? **BBW?** Tom, didn’t you listen to her speech today? She don’t want a BBW! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/127 "2014-10-16T06:38:38Z")
> [@Calatin](#): > > And no, I would not, seeing as how I am a homosexual male. This. And I like skinny guys. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/128 "2014-10-16T15:05:34Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > Nigella Lawson is not even close to being a BBW. That’s just ridiculous. What next, is someone gonna come in and say “Yeah that Marilyn Monroe, she was a pretty good looking BBW”? That was kind of my point; there’s a lot of latitude between say… overweight, but not abnormally so, and Gabourey Sidibe style obesity. (not to pick on her specifically, but she’s the only actress I can think of in that category). Some people put the “BBW” label on anyone who’s somewhere on the fatter side of overweight, and others don’t start using that label until the woman’s clearly obese. And FTR, Nigella’s on the chubby side of overweight. I’ve actually met her, and while she’s not very tall, she’s far from waifish either. Just as sexy in person as on TV though! ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/129 "2014-10-16T16:23:11Z")
I have, and would again, should the situation present itself. Not my first choice, but then again, neither is the closet sociopath type I tend to end up dating, either, so I’ll take my chances with the more generously-proportioned. AAHH! Zombies got me! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/130 "2014-10-16T16:51:41Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Sure. I’m not attracted to grotesquely obese women, but a woman who’s weight is somewhere between “average” and “grotesquely obese”? Sure. Being overweight isn’t an automatic dealbreaker to me. Right. Curvy, rubenesque, zaftig all are good. Twig-like, anorexic, “drug-waif” are bad. But a woman who cant walk up one flight of stairs or two blocks without getting winded is out. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/131 "2014-10-16T19:24:51Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > BBW stands for Big Beautiful Woman, a euphemism they commonly use to describe themselves. Uh, no, it’s the current politically correct term we’ve been told to use. I think it’s a wee bit nauseating, since I’m certainly less than beautiful at any number of times. I enjoy asking salespeople where the Fat Girls department is, just to see the look on their face. I’m a little sick. > [@](#): > > And the majority of responses above, so far (well, 3 out of the 4) seem to be males saying they won’t date a BBW. So guys claim. But, I don’t have any trouble dating men, and I’m both fatter and taller than average (I’m 5’9" and a size 18). Maybe it’s because I’m not lazy and I don’t go around eating Twinkies or crap and complaining about my weight; also, I do work out so things aren’t…jello-ish. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/132 "2014-10-17T17:55:48Z")
You also probably don’t go around calling yourself a BBW, which is the main trait I find inherently offputting. It comes with a huge chip on your shoulder. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2014, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/133 "2014-10-17T19:29:37Z")
I date people I have good chemistry with on one level or another, and roundishness is not a dealbreaker except at extreme conditions. (I do think one should be taller than one is wide). ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2014, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/134 "2014-10-17T19:38:28Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > So guys claim. But, I don’t have any trouble dating men, and I’m both fatter and taller than average (I’m 5’9" and a size 18). Maybe it’s because I’m not lazy and I don’t go around eating Twinkies or crap and complaining about my weight; also, I do work out so things aren’t…jello-ish. It’s running slightly better than 50% will. But size 18 @ 5’9 is just “curvy” to me, so maybe it depends on the guys definition. I cant blame anyone for not choosing a 400# potential partner. But I am surprised that the 49% who said “NO”. Are you saying “no” to 400# or saying NO to size 16? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Lowdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Lowdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lowdown)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2014, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/135 "2014-10-17T20:22:26Z")
I went with No, but it’s all relative. If there’s some extra heft, no big deal. However, after a certain height to weight ratio, we stop being compatible because of differing priorities. I will never be unhealthy big. I expect my partner to have similar standards. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2014, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/136 "2014-10-17T20:28:43Z")
Is actually my body type preference. However, as with everything, not all big girls are beuatiful and not all beautiful girls are big. It’s a body type preference not a hard and fast rule. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2014, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/137 "2014-10-17T20:53:05Z")
Depends on what you define as “Big”. 200lb+ woman under 6’ tall? Probably not. Anything over like 160-170 is probably getting above my zone of interest. I weigh 165 and would have a hard time with a girl who was heavier than me, unless she was significantly taller which wouldn’t be an issue for me. My wife is a few inches shorter though. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2014, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/138 "2014-10-17T22:03:52Z")
Like a lot of others have said, it depends on what “big” or “BBW” or whatever means to you. My wife is a very petite person, and I generally find myself more attracted to slim/toned women. But the first woman I ever fell in love with was a little heavy, and _Jesus_ was she sexy. Anyway, the inimitable [cockeyed.com](http://cockeyed.com) has a photographic height weight chart [here](http://www.cockeyed.com/photos/bodies/heightweight.html), that might be useful. My first love was about the size of the last woman pictured on [this](http://www.cockeyed.com/photos/bodies/506-190.html) page, who says she is 5’6" and 190lbs (direct links: [1](http://www.cockeyed.com/photos/bodies/l/506-190_Alisha_L2.jpg), [2](http://www.cockeyed.com/photos/bodies/l/506-190_Alisha_L1.jpg)). That’s a BMI of 30.7, obese by NIH standards. But if I were in the market, I wouldn’t avert my eyes from her or anything. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2014, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/139 "2014-10-17T22:21:35Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > Like a lot of others have said, it depends on what “big” or “BBW” or whatever means to you. My wife is a very petite person, and I generally find myself more attracted to slim/toned women. But the first woman I ever fell in love with was a little heavy, and _Jesus_ was she sexy. > > Anyway, the inimitable [cockeyed.com](http://cockeyed.com) has a photographic height weight chart [here](http://www.cockeyed.com/photos/bodies/heightweight.html), that might be useful. My first love was about the size of the last woman pictured on [this](http://www.cockeyed.com/photos/bodies/506-190.html) page, who says she is 5’6" and 190lbs (direct links: [1](http://www.cockeyed.com/photos/bodies/l/506-190_Alisha_L2.jpg), [2](http://www.cockeyed.com/photos/bodies/l/506-190_Alisha_L1.jpg)). That’s a BMI of 30.7, obese by NIH standards. But if I were in the market, I wouldn’t avert my eyes from her or anything. The first woman on that page, wearin jeans, and a turquoise slight crop top, has a _dynamite_ figure. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2014, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711/140 "2014-10-17T23:12:03Z")
As others have said, I voted “no”, but I really could have done without the “ugh”. It’s not a matter of disgust or anything, just personal taste. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-a-bbw/683711.md?page=8)