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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I am fat, AIBU?

182 replies

PeaFaceMcgee · 14/06/2017 15:42

To show how ridiculous the BMI calculator is... My BMI is 19, yet look at the state of my body fat!

Sick of being told I don't need to lose weight as I'm 'skinny'.

AIBU to think that I am indeed too fat?

OP posts:
user1491260401 · 14/06/2017 21:06

Anatidae - there is medical research showing that abdominal fat correlates with negative health outcomes independent of total body fat.

Having a waist to hip ratio of 0.85 or above is one of the definitions of abdominal obesity. Having normal BMI (below 25) but excess abdominal fat is sometimes referred to as metabolic obesity at normal weight and this significantly raises health risks.

hula008 · 14/06/2017 21:13

Well remember that you also have scoliosis - that can affect your silhouette slightly.

Anatidae · 14/06/2017 21:19

Yes I'm aware of that, user and I'm aware of the consequences of visceral fat in terms of signalling /inflammation etc.

What I'm saying is that a hip:waist ratio in and of itself is meaningless below a certain body mass index - because the abdomen still has to contain the organs while the hips and bum can be stripped of fat and bulk. A child with starvation and kwashiorkor would have a 'bad' hip to waist ratio but would not be obese.
With a bmi of 19, the op is not fat, overweight, or chubby by any objective definition
She is highly unlikely to have sufficient visceral fat at that weight to have health implications. Her insistence on misusing the hip:waist ratio out of context, initial photos and insistence on validation are somewhat indicative of disordered thinking around weight/body image and food.

Original poster
PeaFaceMcgee · 14/06/2017 21:27

disordered thinking around weight/body image and food

You think I have an eating disorder? I'm pretty happy with my body apart from midsection fat, and my diet is balanced and good.

OP posts:
PacificDogwod · 14/06/2017 21:33

The inch you can pinch is less dangerous than visceral fat, inside you.

The photo you posted is really misleading as you are bent in the middle.

A normal body fat content (we all 'have fat') for a health female is about 25 to 31% for a normal health woman (down to 20% for athletes).

What is it you are worrying about? Or what are you trying to achieve?
BMI is a reasonable screening tool, but it is no measure of fitness or muscliness or health.

PacificDogwod · 14/06/2017 21:34

A photo of you standing up would look radically different btw.

Stoneagemum · 14/06/2017 21:35

Ok so you have a posture problem that means your movement 'fat' projects from your belly, you are not fat, it's just where normal flesh appears. If we were all tight all over we wouldn't move

Original poster
PeaFaceMcgee · 14/06/2017 21:39

What is it you are worrying about? Or what are you trying to achieve?

I dislike the fat around my midsection, that has been there for many years since I formerly slipped into a lack of exercise and bad eating. I want to reduce my body fat ratio and I am achieving this pretty well.

I wish that some people around me would not dismiss my feelings because they see themselves as having more fat to lose. My voice never really gets heard. It's all about them. Just because my current bmi is 19, it doesn't mean I don't have body fat to lose.

Plus I do want to be as healthy as I can be.

OP posts:
divadee · 14/06/2017 21:39

BMI is a waste of time. When I got down to my lowest body fat percentage of 16% through hard work my BMI was still 25. I'm 5"11 and I weighed 11 stone. I wasn't fat. I had good muscles but muscle weighs more than fat. Never ever go on weight loss. Go on inches and how you look and clothes feel.

I look at my body builder friends who when competing go down to about 8% body fat and who are as lean as can be and according to BMI they are obese.

Original poster
PeaFaceMcgee · 14/06/2017 21:40

It's not just 'movement fat' Stone. It didn't used to be here and it's rapidly disappearing with diet and exercise. I know my own body.

OP posts:
Anatidae · 14/06/2017 21:41

I have no idea if you have an eating disorder.

Insisting you're obese by a ratio that doesn't really apply to you at your bmi is indicative of disordered thinking.

What do you want from this thread? Validation that you're not obese? You aren't. You appear to be on the slim side of normal. Can you appreciate that threads like this are not terribly healthy, for anyone involved? Imagine someone in recovery from anorexia reading this - what would they think?

Bmi isn't terribly accurate, but it's the tool we have. Waist to hip is ok but it breaks down at the edges of the bell curve.

Aim for a bmi in the normal range unless you have specific reason (rugby prop forward.) aim for a balanced healthy diet and regular excercise built into your life. Don't smoke, don't drink too much. If you're worried about DR or core issues, programs like mamamage or RYC are fantastic.

PacificDogwod · 14/06/2017 21:42

Ah. I've now found your standing up photo - sorry.

Medically speaking there's nothing wrong with your weight.
From a fashion point of view? Nothing wrong with you, but fashionistas will tell you otherwise Hmm

Original poster
PeaFaceMcgee · 14/06/2017 21:42

Really good tip to look for Inches Diva - am making this my focus. A calculator online suggests my body fat is 27% - would love to get to 20% or so.

OP posts:
WizardOfToss · 14/06/2017 21:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PacificDogwod · 14/06/2017 21:46

You'd have to seriously increase muscle mass rather than just lose fat.

I agree there is more interesting stuff out there to focus on Grin

Original poster
PeaFaceMcgee · 14/06/2017 21:49

Insisting you're obese by a ratio that doesn't really apply to you at your bmi is indicative of disordered thinking

I've not insisted on it at all actually - I noted that it was interesting that this calculation deemed me 'obese' by its own definition. Until user posted I had no knowledge of WTH ratios.

I do say my belly is fatter than it should be, based on previous shape and family traits.

What do you want from this thread? Validation that you're not obese?

No, read my OP again maybe? I was asking if the BMI calculator was rubbish as I do have too much midsection fat.

Can you appreciate that threads like this are not terribly healthy, for anyone involved? Imagine someone in recovery from anorexia reading this - what would they think?

I'm not responsible for anyone else's thoughts. I am sick of being told to shut up because I'm 'fine' compared to X or Y.

OP posts:
Original poster
PeaFaceMcgee · 14/06/2017 21:52

Thank you Wizard. I hope you are having a splendid evening.

OP posts:
QuiteLikely5 · 14/06/2017 21:53

If you want to be the perfect shape then I agree that the tummy whilst sitting does not look as good as it could.

But you know that - you have said as much and like I always say if nothing changes - nothing changes.

Sooo do something about it.

Imo whether you are classed as obese or not is neither here nor there if you don't like the shape of your figure standing or sitting!!

hopsalong · 14/06/2017 21:53

I think you must naturally have a slight, light frame and probably a lack of muscle tone too. I'm basically exactly the same height and weight (half an inch shorter and 9 1/2 stone) and am far from skinny, but do look much leaner than this around the middle, probably because I have different proportions to you. My hips are a good two inches larger but my waist is 26-27 inches. I think this makes me sort of medium framed. You have more the kind of frame a model might have! So probably you do need to lose half a stone or so to get a bit leaner and have a healthier waist/hip ratio.

In other words I think you're right to be a little puzzled. Most people with a BMI of this range don't have this much abdominal fat I think (my own abs are sort of shot by a massive diastasis after second baby, but there we are...)

Original poster
PeaFaceMcgee · 14/06/2017 21:59

Sooo do something about it

I am Quite - and successfully.

Thanks Hops - I can pinch many inches, even when standing. Yes - our family frame is model-like size 8-10 but with boobs.

OP posts:
NancyWake · 14/06/2017 22:06

I was going to recommend Pilates too, it's ideal for that tummy fat.

It can be very expensive to have 1 on 1 class, but group classes brings the price down.

My sister's had 3 kids and has had great success with toning her tummy with Pilates.

You're basically like me in that you don't have any tummy muscles, that's what produces that collapsed fat look. And also the pregnancy back issue. Building up core strength won't just help with your tummy, but also help prevent back problems and injuries in the future.

SoftSheen · 14/06/2017 22:08

divadee At 5'11" and 11 stone your BMI would be 21.4, right in the middle of the healthy weight range.

Original poster
PeaFaceMcgee · 14/06/2017 22:08

All good stuff Nancy. Am determined!

OP posts:
NancyWake · 14/06/2017 22:08

My natural weight is also slightly low on the BMI. I'm technically borderline underweight, but I have a small frame - 5 inch wrists - yet a similar tummy.

Original poster
PeaFaceMcgee · 14/06/2017 22:15

Something which strikes me about different frame sizes (my wrist is 6" around)... I'm sure this is why some women have much, much larger babies than others (excluding uncontrolled gdm cases).

I literally could not have grown a bigger baby. It was a tight squeeze getting her out of my pelvis as it was, and she was 6lb10oz at 42 weeks. Still a tall and skinny Minnie as I was as a child.

Yet mothers who naturally birth 11lb / 12lb-ers - their frame and pelvis capacity must be much bigger.

So I think it's all relative. My belly fat just looks more because my frame is smaller Grin

OP posts:
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