There is such a thing as being big boned—but it's not a medical term, and it's never used correctly. ... People with larger bones are slightly larger for their heights, yes . . . but it's the soft tissue atop and around those bones—muscle and fat—that make some people look more “big boned” than others.
How do I know if I'm big boned?
Big boned means wider bones
- Less than 5 feet 2 inches tall and wrist size larger than 5.75 inches.
- 5 feet 2 inches to 5 feet 5 inches tall and wrist size larger than 6.25 inches.
- More than 5 feet 5 inches tall and wrist size larger than 6.5 inches.
Are big boned a real thing?
Q: Can someone really be "big-boned"? A: Yes—but most people aren't. People like to say, "I'm not overweight; I'm just big-boned!" to justify a higher number on the scale, but in reality, less than 20 percent of women actually have larger-than-average body frames.
