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. (They're typically tall and have greater bone density and more muscle than most women—think Venus Williams.) About the same percentage of women have naturally tiny builds, and the rest of us fall somewhere in between. Besides, frame size usually accounts for only moderate differences in weight—10 pounds at most. My advice? Forget about your frame if you really want to know whether your weight is healthy. While still an imperfect measure, body mass index can be a good way for the average woman to get a read on her weight (calculate yours at glamour.com/health). And measure your waist, too. A midsection larger than 35 inches around means you're carrying too much abdominal fat and are at greater risk for diabetes, heart disease and stroke.