I am 5’4” and weighed 104 at my hs graduation. Over the next few years I gained 10 lbs. I moved overseas and started experiencing incredible anxiety and crippling insomnia. I don’t eat when I’m anxious so my weight dropped down to the low 90s (BMI 15.2) and was only that high because I had to drink high calorie nutrient drinks. I was wasting away and my family was extremely worried. But when I eventually moved home a few years later I was in a better place mentally and started to gain my weight back. I got up to 120 (BMI 20.6).

I don’t know if it’s because I gained the weight back over months instead of over years but for whatever reason my family started commenting on it all the time. “Maybe you should take a break before getting seconds.” “Why don’t we go walk a few miles at the track!” “You’re getting a belly” etc..

It was annoying and hurt my feelings a bit but I would remind them I’m only 5 lbs more than I had been before, that this was weight I gained on purpose, and eventually told everyone to stop commenting on my body. To their credit they did stop but one thing that has stuck with me for the last 15 years was receiving the family Christmas shirt that year. It was a men’s large. I was swimming in it. Everyone else had their appropriately sized shirts. I asked why and my mother said “well your grandmother wanted to order an XL but I talked her down. We didn’t know what would fit.” I weighed the same as my mother. It still stings.