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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that the BMI chart must be wrong?

56 replies

INeedToEat · 20/10/2017 09:18

I shall start of by saying that on New years day i was a size 18/20 and am now a 10/12 (don't know the weight as I never weigh myself). I also went for a health check up and the nurse did weigh me and seems happy with my weight / height ratio.

As I never weigh myself I decided to check out my BMI which tells me I'm in the over weight catogry!

I'm 11stone 13 lb's and am 5' 10.5".

Am I really over weight still ?

OP posts:
BrandNewHouse · 20/10/2017 09:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Raraolala · 20/10/2017 09:21

Your bmi is 23 so I think you just mistyped a number :)

BrandNewHouse · 20/10/2017 09:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ummmmgogo · 20/10/2017 09:22

In the kindest possible way, yes you are still a little overweight. you only have a tiny bit to lose to get into the healthy range if that's what you want though xxx

amusedbush · 20/10/2017 09:22

As above, your BMI is perfectly healthy. Well done on making such a positive change, you must feel great.

amusedbush · 20/10/2017 09:23

Ummmmgogo

What? OP's BMI is absolutely spot on.

Ummmmgogo · 20/10/2017 09:23

sorry I thought you said 5ft 1!!!! ignore me xxx

Original poster
INeedToEat · 20/10/2017 09:23

Oh .. maybe I didn't mean BMI. It was a graph with weight and height along the bottom and sides??

Follow the lines and it said I was in the overweight category?

OP posts:
MsDugong · 20/10/2017 09:23

Are you sure you checked your BMI correctly? I'm a similar height and weight (slightly shorter and slightly heavier) and I was surprised that your BMI came out as overweight. I hover between okay weight and slightly overweight. So I nosily checked your BMI on the NHS website and it tells me you're in a healthy weight category.

formerbabe · 20/10/2017 09:24

From what I understand the bmi system was created over 150 years ago. It's very outdated imo. People are far bigger nowadays, not just talking weight but height and frame too. Have you ever visited an old castle or a historical building and seen how low ceilings are, how small doorframes are etc? Or look at women's clothes from decades ago, even very slim people nowadays would have to starve themselves to fit into them! The only time my bmi was in the normal range was when I ate one meal a day.

amusedbush · 20/10/2017 09:26

Did it look like this? This is a BMI chart but I checked on the NHS site and you're fine.

Did the doctor measure your height correctly? I'm just a peep under 5' 5 but a family planning doctor measured me as 5' 3, which pushed my BMI up. I argued the odds and made him re-do it - I was correct after all!

AIBU to think that the BMI chart must be wrong?
BoomBoomBoomBoooom · 20/10/2017 09:28

You are probably a little overweight health wise but are probably smaller than the average person. Average person is now fat though so it skews our idea of what is common/healthy.

Lovestonap · 20/10/2017 09:33

BoomBoom

No, no she's not.

Parmesanity · 20/10/2017 09:37

At your height and weight you're not overweight either by BMI nor common sense. You've done brilliantly in your weight loss, what a positive thing to do!

The BMI charts don't take muscle into account which is why some super fit people register as overweight due to muscle being heavier than fat.

I'm 178.5cm and weigh 160lb which puts me in the healthy category on the NHS calculator. The range is 9st 4lb to 12st 8lb.

Original poster
INeedToEat · 20/10/2017 09:38

This is the chart I saw. Am i reading it wrong ?

AIBU to think that the BMI chart must be wrong?
OP posts:
Dobopdidoo1 · 20/10/2017 09:39

What? The OP is definitely not overweight.

Original poster
INeedToEat · 20/10/2017 09:40

Amused - thanks every bit of height helps! But yes height is correct.

OP posts:
Fruitcorner123 · 20/10/2017 09:40

I have never seen that chart before but you are not overweight. I am your height and weigh a little bit more than you, i am not overweight either. The second chart is not what the NHS use

hohumherewego · 20/10/2017 09:42

I don't trust the BMI thing at all.

According to the chart I would be underweight.

But actually I'm what they call skinny fat. A trainer at the gym gave me a thing to squeeze and it measures your body fat percentage. It was shocking. I actually had a much higher body fat percentage than a lot of heavier people.

Try and do one of those if you can.

StepAwayFromGoogle · 20/10/2017 09:43

Where's that chart from OP? It doesn't seem to be following BMI.

Glitteryfrog · 20/10/2017 09:43

It makes me over weight too.
5'8 and about 10.5 stone.

Ktown · 20/10/2017 09:43

Check your waist measurement
Over 31 inches and you need to lose some

Original poster
INeedToEat · 20/10/2017 09:45

Parm - thank you. It's been a really positive experience. I felt great until I read that chart. I don't think I could or should lose too much more weight as I'm beginning to look a little thin. I'm now starting to focus on tonning up a little.

It's just a little dishearting to see that graph!

OP posts:
frieda909 · 20/10/2017 09:46

That chart is bonkers. I’m 5ft 8 and it’s telling me that pretty much anything over 10 stone is overweight for me, which is just totally wrong. My ideal weight is more like 11.5 stone!

ScaryDuck · 20/10/2017 09:46

Not sure where your chart is from OP, but here is the NHS version and it shows you (and me Grin) as healthy weight

AIBU to think that the BMI chart must be wrong?