Can you be underweight and fat?

[galaxyfaraways]

I have a bmi of 18.1 but look physically fat, my stomach patrudes and is flabby so I can make several rolls from it and if I put on a dress I look pregnant.
I see people walk around with their stomach showing and I could never look like that but apparently I’m under weight?

Do you have separated abs from pregnancy? This can make your stomach stick out as the muscles are separated and don’t hold everything in.

Sounds like you need toning.

Would anyone else ever say you look fat or is it just you?

My BMI is around 18.5 and clothes can still look unflattering on me depending on the fit/cut but I don’t think anyone with a BMI of 18 could really look fat.

Anyone can make rolls from their stomach. No one is just bone and skin. But no, you can’t possibly have excessive body fat and have an underweight BMI. In the kindest possible way, to me, this sounds like body dsymorphia.

I am definitely fat (BMI of about 29/30). It’s never occurred to me to check to see if I can make rolls from my belly fat. I presume I can! Just truly never thought about it. Because I’m not preoccupied with it. If you are, at a BMI of 18, I think this is more about your relationship with your body and how you feel about it than your actual body composition.

You could be bloated that would make your belly protrude. But no, BMI that low means you’re not fat

My take on this is being described as 'curvy' whilst a size 8-10 when I was on the fringes of the fashion industry. I was underweight, I am tall. It's quite hard to be underweight at my height.

It was a wake up call, I took my IT skills elsewhere.

I don’t know I had 4 children.

I am not underweight but I am within a healthy weight category and my stomach definitely sticks out since having children making me look bigger.

I’m very short, barely 5 foot with skinny arms and legs but I’m all belly.

My BMI is about the same 18/19 & I have flabby cellulite thighs.

I see women in overweight range who have smooth legs.

I think age has got a lot to do with it unfortunately (I'm late 40's) & comparing myself to women a lot younger 😂

You have body dysmorphia (sp?) if you believe you are fat and underweight. Please seek therapy for this before you end up with an eating disorder (if you don’t already)

I watched an interesting video on insta the other day by a dr talking about how normal it is for women to have tummies (normal to not have one too!) but oestrogen, other hormones, cycles, birth, children. Some women in my family have really protruding tummies despite being very slim and never having children. They’re not unhealthy, one is an avid gym goer, but it just seems to be how some women are impacted by hormones. Like the dr said, just look at all the Greek statues.

I think of curvy as proportional but I have no boobs, no bum and just take on a pregnant kind of look so hide under baggy smock type clothes yet I’m a size 6.

this is me now I am perimenopausal I have a low bmi barely 5ft have always been naturally very skinny no matter what I ate but now at 49 I have a belly

If size 6 fits your waist there is no way that you are fat. You should contact your GP for support.

It’s not fat but just because you are slim doesn’t mean you will have a great body shape with perfect proportions

Do you work out ?

I presume most of the people suggesting the op has body dysmorphia don’t have a low bmi or are naturally very petite or slim even after having dc Even slim people can have hang ups about their bodies Meno belly fat is all over the internet I have gained a little weight still in the low bmi and it’s gone to my belly i would of preferred it go to my nonexistent boobs filled out my arms and legs but because i am a size 6 i apparently can’t complain about my change in body shape which is natural to without being accused of having body dysmorphia and a eating disorder

Agree, size 6 is for teenagers. It's very small

You say you've put on a 'little weight' fair enough. OP says she looks 'fat' and looks pregnant. No one who is size 6 looks fat.
No one is saying you can't be unhappy with your body. I've been a size 6 and hated that I had no boob's and that my legs were out of proportion to my top half, but I wasn't fat.

I would say it’s a muscle problem maybe see a women’s physio to assess if your abs are separated or just weak.
I’m a similar size to you op and definitely felt like I had a flabby tummy after my second baby. Getting a good posture back has helped a lot.

No, stop bragging 🙄😄

I had a full health check last year. The doctor that went through my results was astounded at my high % of body fat compared to my low-ish BMI. She told me to lose 10cm off my waist to be in proportion...but I'm a size 12. Google "skinny fat", there are loads of us out there.

No. I walk to work about 20 mins each way though.

I do need to work on my posture, I have quite a curved spine like my mum and she looks quite hunched now at 80 and I definitely feel like I’m getting shorter.