*offer of hugs* I've gotten about 20 pounds off in... two years? Probably around that. (Darn hypothyroid condition, had me gaining weight while breastfeeding, which is supposed to strip weight off, right?) So go you! O:>

If it's any consolation, the kids' parents were probably mortified as well. It's very hard to say, "Oh, honey! That's a rude thing to say!" without implying that you agree that someone is overweight.

Now, for revenge against the little brats... Tell 'em that you're biologically predisposed to carry a little more weight than some other people (but less than others), and go on a long digression about metabolism and genetics and nutrition until their little eyes glaze over and they regret asking?

It works for my kid -- she doesn't go through the "why" stage at all, so far, because it only takes one "why" for us to go on at length about the answer.

(And, if you haven't yet, get tested for hypothyroidism. Because it is Sheer Hell to try to get weight off if your body is pretty well programmed not to touch the reserves, but instead make you dizzy and faint until you eat something. Believe me. And few doctors test that routinely on blood tests, for some stupid reason.)