Heavy people are "huge targets" in tourist spots like Rome. The most likely thought you were American.
If you are thin and do not wear t-shirts, hip-packs, ball caps, and sandals then you tend to blend in much more easily.
I have actually seen gypsies throw their babies at tourists while in Rome. The dumb tourists catch the little fucker in their arms and then other gypsy kids swarm and pick their pockets.
