The string test. Aibu to think this is a pretty clear way to show you're overweight?

[africanprincessinscotland]

I caught a bit of a BBC programme earlier where they were doing the string test. I've never heard of it before, but it makes perfect sense. If your waist measurement is more than half your height, you are overweight. And because it's around your waist, it indicates how much visceral fat you have. That's the really bad type.

So, you get a piece of string, cut it to the length of your height (heel to head), fold it in half and put it around your waist. If it doesn't meet, you're overweight. Very simple.

I know that BMI is controversial, but with this, you can't really argue against it, can you? Unless you're pregnant!

I did it because my partner says I'm silly to think I'm over weight. I did pass it but still think I am and could lose some weight. Its a good indicator though.

Cheval is that right? That's where my fat always lives. My stomach is always pretty flat....I lost a stone but I still feel a tiny bit porky thanks to my hips and bottom. Proper pear shape I am with a smaller bust.

I have diastasis recti so I fail this test. I am very slightly overweight too but nowhere near as bad as this test implies for me.

This would show me to be overweight I think, I probably could do with losing half a stone or so but I wear a size 10 that is tight around my waist but fits my small hips/bum due to my natural shape, I'm also only 5ft 2. I wish their was a diet/excercise that could change your natural body shape how I would love some curves in the right places!

Although you can't spot reduce or add fat, exercise can make a difference to body shape,

For example the right weight lifting exercises can make your backside rounder, or thighs more muscular, and stomach slimmer.

So although diet can't do it as such, exercise can make a difference to body shape.

I'm naturally an Apple if I gain weight, but right now am an inverted triangle due to exercise coupled with the right body weight.