To think I'm overweight (refused access to an NHS funded diet program + pic included)

[user1485442361]

I used to be a svelte size 10. Put on weight after having my Son. My main issue is my stomach. It sticks out. I think this is because I have a small waist so the fat has a smaller area to cover (if that makes sense). In the morning it can look pretty flat but by the evening after I've eaten a meal it does stick out in tight clothes.

Anyway, I don't know what I weigh. But I have always considered myself considerably overweight. At least two stone overweight. I am 5ft7 and should be no more than 11 stone and around 10stone to me a very healthy weight. I suspect I'm about 13 stone. People do often tell me I am fine the way I am but my parents tell me I need to lose two stone.

Anyway, signed up for an NHS funded diet programme. I arrive and they tell me my BMI is not high enough to qualify. You have to be at least two stone overweight. But I am sure I am I said. They didn't even weigh me and said I was too slim to join.

I've just signed up to slimming world but I'm really annoyed. I know I should be flattered but I really wanted to go on the course and do genuinely think I'm overweight by around two stone and should have been allowed participate. I have struggled to lose the baby weight but I know I have to make an effort. AIBU?

Sorry for the poor quality of pics. I'm not in my own home and took them just now. They're not designed to be in any way flattering. I want genuine opinions and I'm ready for them!

MESSAGE FROM MNHQ - IMAGES REMOVED AFTER PRIVACY CONCERNS

My belly sticks out at the end of the day and I'm a stone below what I should be for my BMI (not a stealth boast, it's medication related and I'm under a dietician)

Just weigh yourself, there is nothing in your photos that you couldn't sort yourself!

Sorry but all these people saying the NHS places should be kept for people that need it - why can't obese people eat less and move more?? Nobody should get NHS funded treatment to lose weight. It's a joke.

I have PCOS and diagnosed clinical depression and anxiety ... I was also a size 28 and had struggled with weight issues since childhood. Stemming from that, I had a really bad relationship with food and eating, and it was a vicious cycle that I couldn't seem to get out of.

I was referred to Slimming World and I lost 4 stone in 6 months, not just from "eating less and moving more" but from following a balanced diet that is sustainable long term, and takes into account the issues that come with my PCOS and works with the medication I take for that and my depression & anxiety. It also provides non-judgmental support, advice and help that you don't get by trying to do it alone ... for the first 2 months I did literally no exercise and still lost the weight, because the SW plan is all about re-establishing a good relationship with food and changing your way of thinking about food, then once you've done that you can start to add in exercise to supplement it.

I would never have gone out walking alone, I would have felt everyone was staring at the fat loser and making snide comments behind my back, but since I joined my group, I walk there and back (about a 2 mile round trip) because one of the other members lives nearby and we walk together. When I go shopping I invariably bump into at least one other person I know from the SW group, and we will chat about the things in our trolleys, or the meal ideas we have planned for the week and it's not a taboo subject. I now have a good relationship with food - before if I even looked at a bar of chocolate or slice of pizza I would feel guilty as it was a "bad" food, and eating it was even worse, now I feel no guilt about eating the odd bar of chocolate because there is no such thing as "bad" or "banned" foods, you an eat anything you want, it's all about making good choices as part of a good eating plan and I still feel in total control.

You look pretty much the same shape as me but taller. You're definitely don't look 2 stone overweight and I can see why they turned you away. I'd be surprised if it's much more than a stone.

im 5ft7 8.5 stone and BMI is 18. something. My stomach looks like that after 3 kids when ive got jeans on and stand like that, my arms also sag as i am 40 and gravity is catching up. I need to exercise not loose weight and i would say i look a similar shape to you if let it all hang out with tight jeans and a vest top. I would assume the nhs service s for people in dire need where slimming world and dieting is not working so they need more support.

Are you serious Op? Are you for real? The GP will weigh you. They have scales in gyms and swimming pools and all sorts of other places.
Your definition of being overweight is odd. So you could do with losing a stone? So? Then get on with it. SW or any other club might offer support.

But to think you'd get in the NHS weight loss programme is ridiculous. Are you for real? That programme is for people with serious weight issues.

Not for a woman who wants to lose a bit if weight. Are you silly? Ignorant? Dim? Unhinged in some way? Do you really think you would qualify. I'm staggered by your stupidity. You are insulting to the seriousness of that NHS service.

I think it's a bit off to expect the NHS to help you lose weight when you obviously do not have much to lose - if you were massively overweight and tried everything that is a different matter, but if you want to lose a few pounds, do a bit of exercise and eat sensibly - there must be lots of people who actually need that service and you're taking the mick really

Is this about to be deleted?
Bet it will.

The NHS won't want to waste resources on people who aren't really incentivised to lose weight.

The most basic indicator of genuine commitment surely has to be that you've stood on a set of scales to gauge your weight?

I also suffer from anxiety and depression and am on medication, so I have that to contend with as it makes people put on weight. I still wouldn't expect to go to SW or weight watchers for free and I'm pretty astounded that the NHS pay for this. I went to weight watchers once but I left because the advice that the group leaders were giving out at the time was not healthy imo and all about pushing weight watchers or slimming world products. Do the NHS have to fund these people going to SW or do SW do it for free for NHS referrals, they would. make enough money peddling their ready meals..

Honestly, you can do this on your own you really can. I think your body is perfectly fine and the sort of shape I am aiming for.

I repeat, if you think you are overweight enough to qualify for NHS help then I really think you do need to talk to your Dr

o·ver·weight
adjective
ōvərˈwāt/
1.
above a weight considered normal or desirable

(again, I completely agree that the NHS has nowhere near enough resources to tackle people's weight) I think that telling people they are fine when they clearly have an excess weight is ridiculous. If left alone, it is likely the problem will get even worst. Since when do people find it helpful to encourage others to be fat? Are you for real? No wonder we have a problem in this country if people cannot see what is healthy and what is not. Some of the comments are disgusting, and so unhelpful.

You've tried everything in the last 3 years - apart from buying a set of scales

To be honest, you look perfectly normal. Perhaps you are slightly overweight by BMI measurements (which are not that good an instrument for measuring health, in my opinion), but really, not visibly. I agree with PotatoSalad, you might have body dysmorphia.

"I think that telling people they are fine when they clearly have an excess weight is ridiculous"

It's more that she isn't overweight enough to demand free Slimming World on the NHS isn't it?

But you haven't weighed yourself so you know nothing about your actual BMI or weight.

You can't just look at yourself and decide you are 2 stone overweight

Looking at the photos, you don't look overweight. Even if once you have weighed yourself you are out of the healthy weight range, you won't be so obese it could kill you. They are the people NHS funded programmes are for, people who have deep rooted weight problems and seriously need help, not someone who wants to lose a few pounds and shift a bit of baby weight.

I think that telling people they are fine when they clearly have an excess weight is ridiculous. If left alone, it is likely the problem will get even worst. Since when do people find it helpful to encourage others to be fat? Are you for real? No wonder we have a problem in this country if people cannot see what is healthy and what is not.

Are you for real?

Perhaps you have seen a different set of photos?

I am not from the UK by the way. Am from mainland Europe, where we do not have as severe obesity problems. Still think OP looks like within normal weight range.

It's more that she isn't overweight enough to demand free Slimming World on the NHS isn't it?

true. I don't disagree with that point.
I don't even know why these programs exist in the first place when patients are refused cancer treatments, but that's another debate entirely.

I love this thread. oP if one of us guesses your weight correctly do we win you, and if so, what the hell would we do with you?

Not read full thread. Apologies if this has been mentioned and covered but...

Has your stomach been sticking out just since you had your child or before you were pregnant? If it's your shape that bothers you most, it could be split abdominal muscles from pregnancy. My friend has this and has been having physio to help.

This must be a wind up.

Apologies as I've skimmed this. OP at 5'7" you would need to be 11 stone 4 to have a BMI of 25 (overweight). You'd have to be 13 stone 8lbs to have a BMI of 30 (obese). Without weighing yourself you cannot know this.

However, BMI is a blunt measure. If you were muscled you could have quite a high BMI and be healthy.

Go online. Find some exercises to help tone up. Without weighing yourself, you are flying blind.

I know, I know. I'm just off to cancel the cheque now.

Still not sure what health problems you're suffering other than acting like a 12 year old fishing for people to tell them how not-fat they are and slouching in s photo to deliberately appear more overweight.

My BMI was 50. I paid for my own SW membership and am losing weight steadily. I dont expect the NHS to pay even though I am at high risk for diabetes etc and have asthma. I got myself into this state and I will get myself out of it.

Get a grip, pay your own way, actually weigh yourself, stop bleating, educate yourself and make lifestyle changes.

Well we are all different aren't we?

My sister had her fucking cancer treatment withdrawn.

You op, I'm worried that your parents call you fat. That seems mean. Like really spiteful. Good luck with the slimming world.

You don't need to weigh yourself. Measure yourself, it could be really fun.

I am 2 stone overweight. I am also aware of the current state of affairs and realise that the resource needs to focussed on people who are far male overweight than me.

this feels like a very self indulgent post

what is the point of it? you're upset that they said you werent fat enough to get free help on the NHS, well go to SW/WW or whatever, when the NHS cant afford cancer treatment, you want someone to pay for you to lose weight???? really??

a bit of perspective would do you the world of good

get off your backside, and lose weight before you do become a burden

I am not from the UK by the way. Am from mainland Europe, where we do not have as severe obesity problems. Still think OP looks like within normal weight range.

And I live outside the UK, elsewhere in the EU, and the OP would be seen as rather fat here.

I lost weight last year (made a lot of effort to do so) and reached a weight that would absolutely 'pass' here when dressed, but could still have lost an extra 0.5-1 stone to get rid of the excess fat that was mostly hidden by my clothing choices - i.e. I didn't look particularly fantastic naked. I certainly didn't look skinny by this country's standards, and wouldn't have wanted to wear a bikini (no judgment of people who wear bikinis with more fat on them at all, I just wouldn't like the stares here). Yet my overweight family couldn't stop themselves giving me unsolicited opinions about how I absolutely must not lose any more weight. Meanwhile, my BMI was not far under the 25 mark, while most women I know are more likely to be around 18-21. That is not to say the attitude to weight here is 100% healthy, but it certainly shows how normal it is in the UK to be overweight.

Fat people normalise their weight by telling people who are also fat that they shouldn't get any slimmer.