>If anyone can offer any advice, especially on this subject, or if you are heavy, please post if you were treated any differently<

Doppio,

There are those people who are overweight and those people who have ugly souls on every part of this planet.

I am at least 100 pounds overweight and have been to 15 European countries over 10 trips in the last 10 years and have enjoyed every trip immensely. I have never heard (or at least understood) any nasty comments about my weight and if I ever did I would shake my head at that person's rudeness and continue with my adventure. A person with an ugly, hateful heart who would call strangers names or make fun of them are beneath my regard.

I have been thinking about this post ever since I read it yesterday. I do not think that the overweight/obese are mistreated in Europe, but I always feel much more aware of my weight in a country like France or Italy. (I'm a size 10.) In general, it seems to me that many Europeans are svelter than the average American, and whereas I feel pretty trim here in the U.S., I always feel somewhat oversized over there. I'm sure this is purely a mental thing, but it is how I feel.

I asked my husband who is overweight about this topic, and even though he is not overly sensitive, he does feel that his weight is more of an issue overseas. We talked more and it seemed that, like me, he is much more aware of his weight in Europe. Not because people stare at him or make comments or anything like that, but mostly because so many things are smaller -- some hotel elevators are miniscule, bathroom showers can be tight, seats at the theater are narrower etc.

In many cases, things are smaller just because they are retrofits -- modern conveniences shoehorned into ancient buildings for example. This size issue is not really a problem -- these items are big enough for most people, but for a sensitive person like your sister, the smaller scale of things may make her feel more aware of her weight.

I would never want this concern to keep anyone from traveling to Europe, but I wanted to give an honest response to this sensitive issue. I hope this post won't stop your sister from going but maybe help her to prepare herself mentally for a place where many things are smaller than what she is used to. Hopefully, she will realize that the smaller scale of some things is part of Europe's charm and not something that should make her feel bad about herself.

I recall an "incident" that answers your question about "obese treated badly in Europe".

I was standing in line at the checkout in a supermarket.
An 11 year old boy in front of me, asking if I'd buy him matches for a barbecue.
I said "Sorry, but no". He anwered "You do think I would set a house on fire, right?" It took a second for me to answer, I didn't want it to sound rude and he looked quite smart, but then I told the truth in a nice way: "I didn't think that far."

The truth is, people don't care about how you look and mind their own business. The 11 year old boy was naive and it's good that he still is at this age.

So that's the attitude people have about you and the way you look. As a tourist, you're a "dot" walking around.

I spent alot of time in Paris with an overweight person.
She is bright, interesting, lots of confidence and charms everyone she meets.

I'm a big fat slob and everyone, even in France, treated me well. In fact, waiters smile when I walk into an establishment.

Doppio, very interesting and provocative topic. I agree with Magster “…but I always feel much more aware of my weight in a country like France or Italy.” Reality check- mostly Europeans eat healthier and less than we do in the States.


Case in point – last summerI bought an ice cream cone in Paris, just around the corner from the Conciergerie for
€ 3.50. I almost broke up when the man behind the counter gave it to me because the ice cream itself was no bigger than a golf ball!

I was ready to complain, but then I looked around at the svelte Parisians and changed my mind.

Great replies.

>>It seems to me sis & mom are not very comfy with their own weight / size if they worry about what others think of them. Sounds as if they're overly sensitive to the subject. I bet no-one will do anything or say anything about it but sis & mom may feel otherwise.

I think that's part of it. However my sister heard some unkind things in CA, which led to this anxiety.

OP (if you're still reading this).

Ditto the comments that mean people are everywhere. They will be just have to "get over it" if they are judged.

I am "thin." I was wearing ugly tattered jeans, with ugly black rain boots on the Paris metro. It was raining. The snobby French girl who sat across from me for 30 minutes snorted and laughed at my outfit.

She probably thought I looked like a tourist. I did, and I was comfortable. On the other hand, I thought her skinny jeans and unwashed hair made her look like a hobo. But I didn't bother to snort out loud.

People make judgments every time they look at someone. It really "is just what it is." They just have to ignore it.

By the way, OP. I think it is very kind of you to care so much about your family's feelings that you'd even post this thread. How very thoughtful of you to care.

Doppio, when are your sister and mum going on their trip?
Are they still really concerned about this issue?

Hope they have a great time.

Oh you should have NOTHING to worry about. I am bigger than your sister and was in Amsterdam last summer. No one gave me the stink eye because of how I looked. Really they should be having too much fun seeing the sites to bother with what the locals are doing or saying...although I don't think they will say anything that they can understand anyway. Mean Girls will always be mean - wherever you go, but hopefully it will be in a different language and you don't have to hear it. Tell them not to worry. IF they want a trip somewhere, where they will feel at home and welcome no matter what size they are, have them come to Egypt. Egyptian people (for the most part) appreciate large women.