I got these to wear as underwear so I can go on long aerobic walks and hikes in regular clothes. I wear a size 20 in jeans, and a size 2x in these, although I could probably fit into their smaller plus sized shorts as well. It's hard to find workout clothing in my size that isn't embarrassing (for me). But wearing street clothes to walk at 5mph is extremely uncomfortable. Also I like to walk to work when I can, and I don't want to have to change clothes when I get there, but I also don't want to tear up my thighs with the seams on my underwear and jeans. These are a great compromise. I can wear whatever I want without the chafing I'd otherwise get. The only problem is that some pants will try to slide off because the material of the shorts is so slippery, and the waist goes up way higher than the waist of almost any pair of pants will.I got my first pair of these shorts several years ago direct from the manufacturer, and they aren't quite as elastic as my newest pair, but they still feel and function just as well. I have sewn-in labels on most of my jeans, and some of them are really scratchy, so not only do these shorts protect my skin but they've also been scratched on the back like you wouldn't believe. The back is fuzzy, but totally intact. They are really excellent. Everything from AeroTech is. I have several pairs of their chamois bike shorts and capris, several pairs of workout shorts, and I had one bike jersey but my rats chewed it ? Everything is excellent. They're one of the only companies that offers plus-size cycling and workout garments, plus it's all made in the US!(!!) Their service is superb as well. I got a personal phone call from them about an order once, and was so impressed.(NB: If you're going to buy shorts to wear under pants, I'd recommend these rather than the spanky shorts, at least if you're on the bigger side. It might not be an issue if you have lanky legs. The spanky shorts, at least my edition, have shorter legs with less structure in the hem so they're more likely to roll up, which will be uncomfortable in and of itself but also expose your thighs to chafing. The waistband is lower which could be good or bad depending on your wardrobe. I don't like how my pants hit right at the same spot as the waist of the spanky shorts, because then my belt presses the elastic into my skin.)