[marlu]

I ask this question because at a height of five one and a weight of 122 I am fitting easily into a kid's size 16. Sometimes I can wear a 14, but not often. In misses sizes I am a 4 or 2. I haven't tried a 0 yet, mostly because the local Wal Mart (where I do most of my shopping because I'm both poor and cheap) doesn't carry them. In fact they have a VERY limited selection of low end misses sizes, which is why I turned to the kid's department.

Last week I posted in the Support forum about how devastated I was to learn that I still weigh in the 120's in spite of fitting into small sizes. Someone replied that it's very unusual for a grown woman to fit into kid's sizes.

I agree. The last time I was shopping in the kid's department I was around a hundred pounds and wearing a kid's 12.

In fact being able to wear kid's sizes again was what made me think it was safe to be weighed at the doctor's office (I have long standing issues about being weighed) without freaking out. I thought I was about 115, maybe 110 (my goal).

Boy was I disappointed.

[goinforthegold]

I don't know the answer to your question b/c I haven't worn kids sizes since I was about 15 so I don't remember what I weighed when I wore each size back then. BUT, I am into them again now. I'm 114.5lbs (yes, my ticker is wrong, I put on a couple lbs and refuse to move it UP *grin*) and 5ft tall on the nose.

I'm having trouble finding woman's sizes to be small enough...actually, they usually just aren't small enough. I have to buy either juniors or girls. I'm wearing a girls size medium pajama bottoms right now as a matter of fact, and they are drooping off my bum at that. It doesn't help that I have absolutely no hips or butt. *sigh* The problem I'm finding with girls sizes is the lack of space for BOOBS in the shirts though. All in all, it's actually been more difficult for me to shop/buy clothes that fit properly now than it was 40lbs ago. I'm ranging anywhere from a size 0 to a size 4, x-small to small tops in juniors and medium to large in girls. But, I still have anything that really fits me well or properly just b/c of proportions being so weird. The other thing about buying girls sizes is that it's hard to find anything that doesn't look like it's for a kid. KWIM? Most of it is so...well, childlike. Go figure. It's been quite frustrating for me.

What I find to be most upsetting is my perception of my size. For example, logically, I realize that I must be tiny to be fitting into these ridiculous sizes but I don't feel that way. I still feel thick, chunky and frumpy most of the time. Ever wonder if there will come a time in our lives that we aren't consumed with weight/scales/sizes? I know I do. *sigh*

[aphil]

I don't think that vanity sizing has reached the kids department. However, there are more choices in kids now, because of different physiques. There are plenty of girls slims, and plus size choices now. When I was a kid, you had to order slim and plus out of a Sears or JC Penney catalog.

My daughter is in 3rd grade, and is wearing a size 8 slim, or 8, depending on the cut. This is about the same size I wore when I was the same age...so I don't think that vanity sizing has come into play.

The problem really is Wal-Mart. If you are a hard to fit/find size, then you are going to have to probably get clothing somewhere else. This goes not just for tiny people, but also for talls (my stepmother is 5'11" and has trouble finding one piece swimsuits that have a long enough rise, pants that are long enough, etc.) or for women who are very short. You simply have to go to nicer department stores where they sell petite size, tall sizes, bras that are meant for DD+ cups, or extra small sizes like 0's and 2's-basically if you are smaller or larger in many capacities than average, you aren't going to have much luck with Wal-Mart or K-Mart type stores.

Have you tried eBay? Lots of clothing in these sizes/styles are listed on eBay for less than retail.

[Lafayette]

I do know that my darling niece, who is a very active 5 year old, is too thin to fit in kids pants. According to medical charts from the 70's, she's perfect. According to medical charts today, she's thin. I think it's more than just clothing sizes.

As our nation's children continue to gain weight, it seems a number of things are keeping the pace to reassure parents that sitting your kids in front on the TV and feeding them fast food really isn't THAT bad. I strikes me that an "average" child of today would have been the "fat kid" in my childhood classroom and I think that's really sad.

I'm glad my niece plays soccer and runs around outside for hours at a time. She also prefers healthy food to fast food... what great habits to start at such an early age!!! Wish I could get there myself!