Are most actresses very very slim in real life?

[Mitford1789]

I saw a well known actress a few days ago, standing behind her in the queue for a coffee. She was dressed down, however was clearly very pretty in person. However I was taken aback by how slim she was. I would say she was slightly taller than average, not a tiny person if you know what I mean. But so so slim. Do you think most famous actresses/singers etc are like this? Maybe I’m very naive.

@Tuckedinbelly

Exercise makes no substantial difference to ones weight. No SUBSTANTIAL difference. It might for a few months but really it's about what you stick in your gob. Diet diet diet

Rubbish. I cannot lose weight unless I diet AND exercise. I have an underactive thyroid.

And while I’m at it, can people please stop posting their weight, height and measurements? Nobody’s taking it in. Nobody cares about random old you. It’s a little bit embarrassing, and needy

Amen, but I don’t think that will stop the ME ME ME WHAT ABOUT ME contingent.

@Tuckedinbelly I joined a gym and went from a size 16 to a 12 without altering my diet. ‘You can’t outrun a bad diet’ was I guess pedalled by the diet industry which is a big earner

@Iamthewombat

And while I’m at it, can people please stop posting their weight, height and measurements? Nobody’s taking it in. Nobody cares about random old you. It’s a little bit embarrassing, and needy

Amen, but I don’t think that will stop the ME ME ME WHAT ABOUT ME contingent.

Maybe people need to stop speculating on famous people's sizes. Unless they come on here and tell us what they are, its just hearsay and gossip with people spinning it one way or another.

Good luck with your weight loss. I also have an under active thyroid and my incredible consultant has told me my thyroid really has very little bearing on weight - it's all about diet.

@Iamthewombat I agree - the derailing of a really interesting thread with people insisting on telling us their weight, height, dress size etc has been a bit annoying.

There’s a lot of really important issues here - the intense pressure and policing of the weight of actresses sounds so sad. Surely if the camera does add 10 pounds or whatever the industry and society just needs to accept this. Are there really that many people who wouldn’t see a film because the lead actress looked to be a size 12?!

I remember there was a film - The Machinist - around a decade ago starring Christian Bale, and he lost a lot of weight to appear skeletal for his particular role. The media made a great deal of this, his commitment to the role, the stress he was putting his body under etc. I remember reading it and thinking ‘but isn’t this what hordes of actresses are doing non-stop for decades?’. Yet when an actor does it for 6 months in the name of art it’s deemed praiseworthy and exceptional in some way. Good old patriarchal film industry at work there...

@Tuckedinbelly

Good luck with your weight loss. I also have an under active thyroid and my incredible consultant has told me my thyroid really has very little bearing on weight - it's all about diet.

I’ve never seen a consultant about my thyroid - how did you manage that? All I have is. GP who isn’t really interested as long as the numbers are ok.

@coogee There are a number of papers published which you can look up (Robinson 1983, Miller 1983, Devine 1974 and Hamwi 1964). Having a BMI under 20 (even above 18.5) massively increases your risk of developing dementia, it also increases your risk of osteoperosis, it's associated with a weaker immune system and various other health issues. In some countries a BMI of under 20 is considered underweight. Even the NHS will warn you when your BMI is below 20.

There is definitely a different attitude to having a BMI which is too low as compared to too high. Saying I naturally have a BMI of around 18-19 is almost considered a positive 'lucky you' where as saying my BMI is naturally around 24-25 is not. The latter is actually more healthy.

@PromisingMiddleagedWoman I also agree that the people posting stats are a bit worrying. I'm not sure what their motivation is. Why would someone with a healthy body image and no preoccupation with their weight feel the need to post their waist size on this thread?

Even the NHS will warn you when your BMI is below 20.

How?

The NHS BMI tool is happy to state that anything above 18.5 is a healthy weight, despite asking for age as an input.

With regard to the papers you mention, is there anything more up to date? The most recent was published nearly 40 years ago.

I have looked, but found nothing.

I guess that what this thread proves is that TV really does add 10 pounds and meeting someone off the telly is like bumping into someone you know and discovering that they have lost 10lb since you last saw them.

[quote HandfulofDust]@coogee There are a number of papers published which you can look up (Robinson 1983, Miller 1983, Devine 1974 and Hamwi 1964). Having a BMI under 20 (even above 18.5) massively increases your risk of developing dementia, it also increases your risk of osteoperosis, it's associated with a weaker immune system and various other health issues. In some countries a BMI of under 20 is considered underweight. Even the NHS will warn you when your BMI is below 20.

There is definitely a different attitude to having a BMI which is too low as compared to too high. Saying I naturally have a BMI of around 18-19 is almost considered a positive 'lucky you' where as saying my BMI is naturally around 24-25 is not. The latter is actually more healthy.[/quote]
There are also studies indicating that even though obesity is a cancer risk factor, cancer outcomes in people with low/low normal BMI at diagnosis tend to be worse. This is known as the obesity paradox.

academic.oup.com/ajcn/article-abstract/113/1/1/6000655?redirectedFrom=fulltext

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31129887/

A consultant who says an under active thyroid has little bearing on weight gain isn’t a very well informed consultant

@counsellortroi I insisted my GP refer me as they numbers the GP work off are, frankly, bullshit. My friend had seen someone privately and I asked to see the same man (or one of his team) at his NHS clinic. The GP I assume says they want you within a huge range? I aim for a specific number with my results especially as I'm now trying to get pregnant

@coogee

The NHS BMI tool is happy to state that anything above 18.5 is a healthy weight, despite asking for age as an input.

With regard to the papers you mention, is there anything more up to date? The most recent was published nearly 40 years ago.

I have looked, but found nothing.

I got this when I put weight and height in which resulted in a BMI of 18.5

*You are in the healthy weight range, but at the lower end. Keep an eye on your weight and try to stay in the healthy range.

There may be an underlying medical cause for your weight, or your diet may not be providing you with enough calories. We suggest you discuss this with your GP.*

@Tuckedinbelly

Good luck with your weight loss. I also have an under active thyroid and my incredible consultant has told me my thyroid really has very little bearing on weight - it's all about diet.

That's a pretty shit consultant.

@BalloonSlayer

I guess that what this thread proves is that TV really does add 10 pounds and meeting someone off the telly is like bumping into someone you know and discovering that they have lost 10lb since you last saw them.

I think smaller too, or littler

No comment on posters who are petite whatsoever this is just about celebs in rl

Although hearing from people in the industries mentioned is also interesting

@coogee If you have a BMI below 20 the NHS website tells you that you're on the lower end and should discuss with your doctor. Ideal weight is described as a BMI of 20-25, you'll be able to find plenty of evidence for this. Being on the lower end of the healthy BMI range in middle age is associated with a 34% increase in dementia risk.

You seem strangely concerned with telling people that low BMIs are somehow positive.

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150409221827.htm

patient.info/news-and-features/problems-caused-by-being-underweight

www.theguardian.com/society/2015/apr/10/underweight-people-face-significantly-higher-risk-of-dementia-study-suggests

drkristenbentson.com/blog/fresh-ideas/whats-my-ideal-weight-the-ideal-bmi/

www.livestrong.com/article/402391-what-to-do-when-your-bmi-is-low/

I got this when I put weight and height in which resulted in a BMI of 18.5

Yes, but it quite clearly states that 18.5 is healthy. Adding a warning not to drop any lower into the unhealthy range is reasonable. Based on what HandfullofDust said, I would expect the healthy BMI range to vary depending on age.

If you have a BMI below 20 the NHS website tells you that you're on the lower end and should discuss with your doctor.

You are right, it does. Playing around with it, the message disappears at BMI 19.5.

You seem strangely concerned with telling people that low BMIs are somehow positive.

Not at all. I have a low BMI and am interested for the sake of my own health. The odd thing is that I have been referred to an NHS dietician because of a suspected intolerance issue (negative) and also taken part in some medical research related to diabetes. I would have expected my low BMI to have been mentioned if it was an issue.

I think the reasons that people are saying their own weight is so that other posters don't say things like "well everyone looks thin when you're fat."

I am an actress - theatre not screen, so "normal" slim, rather than very slim, but I do feel the pressure to stay that way. I eat low carb and work out every day.

My height and weight are on my CV, and my Spotlight page. Whenever I go for a job, I have to complete a wardrobe form with my measurements, so I can't really ignore the odd extra pound or inch gained.

Funnily enough, as I'm quite tall with an athletic build, I get given traditionally male roles quite often.

@CounsellorTroi Try push your gp for a referral to an endocrinologist.
My Dsis had a thyroid problem had years of being misdiagnosed with poly ovaries too.
Her ovaries were fine.
She went privately she has insurance she has an autoimmune disorder, hashimoto, she is still struggling to maintain her weight but her hashimoto diet has helped her energy and mood.
The consultant mri etc worked out at €1000 without insurance cover.