Apparently I'm obese, but my BMI is normal

[LoudNowSing]

My BMI is 23. Today I measured my waist and it's just over 35 inches. Apparently, this means I'm obese, according to the WHO.

I am very tall at just over 5'11", but still...

I want to cry. This feels very unfair. Anyone got any brilliant ideas for losing a large amount of waist very rapidly?

Last time I had a health check at my GP, before the surgery gave up on health, the nurse measured the 'waistband' of my low-slung jeans which was sitting clearly on my hips. She then pronounced that as my waist measurement.

It all seems quite odd.

It doesn't mean you are obese, it means you are carrying weight around your middle which is an indicator of health. If you are predisposed to carrying fat around your middle then continue to keep your weight in check to avoid a plethora of health problems.

Did she think she was doing you a favour or something?

I would be fine if the WHO went on jeans measurements because mine are size 12. They are all pretty low rise though.

Your waist should be less than half your height. Yours is (just). Do you have excess flab around your middle? If not, then you might not be obese.

Actually when your height is taken into consideration your waist to height ratio is fine.

@BarbaraofSeville

Your waist should be less than half your height. Yours is (just). Do you have excess flab around your middle? If not, then you might not be obese.

I do, tbf. I have a good 5kg to lose to get back to pre-lockdown size. But even then I had a large waist.