fat/overweight

[haspa]

Hi, I'm really stuck. I have to say how I would explain the difference between fat and overweight to esl students and am not sure I understand it myself. Can Anyone help

[chrisw]

I think you are looking at the question from the wrong view point. Think about it - what is the difference in TONE of the words. You're fat! You're overweight.


The difference is that overweight does not have the same connotation as fat does. Calling someone fat would be a ruder than saying they were overweight.

Cheers,