To think the NHS BMI is a load of s#!t

[babyarz]

I gave birth to my beautiful DS 4 months ago.

Although I am losing weight as ebf I thought it would be good - after Christmas - to cut down on the chocolates and eat healthier.

I am fitting into all my size 10 clothes pre pregnancy and thought I'd weigh myself today to see what I am. Once I did this I looked my bmi score at it states I'm overweight!!

I'm totally ready for being told I'm BU but at 5"3, 10st 5 and size 10 I honestly didn't think I'd be classified as overweight!

What's your thoughts?

The BMI formulae is acknowledged to have flaws.

It's supposed to be really simple to work out but short and tall people don't get accurate readings. Short people can be calculated as being too thin and tall people can be too fat.

BMI doesn't distinguish between muscle or fat so athletes don't get accurate figures.

Many children and adults with average heights are under/over weight and their BMI scores do correctly identify it. The people themselves loudly argue against the results but it seems they are in denial rather than the scores being wrong. They use the fact that the BMI formulae has flaws to back up their denial.

In terms of anorexia, you can be classified as having an EDNOS. Ednos refers to eating disorders that display some of the characteristics of other disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, but the behaviours of which do not fit the full criteria of these conditions. Yes, a certain amount of weight loss is part of the criteria for anorexia nervosa as well as amount of purging or excercise and bingeing bulimia. Not being classified as having anorexia DOES NOT mean you aren't ill, or do not have a serious eating disorder. It simply means you do not reach the diagnostic criteria for anorexia. I was hospitalized during my late teens and early twenties for anorexia. It has the highest death rate of any mental disorder. I am very thankful to have beaten it.

As for BMI it is accurate enough for the general population.

"a size 10 these days is very different from a size 10 twenty years ago

I get the concept of vanity sizing but I think sizing isn't quite as different as people might think. "

It is.
www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2012/04/04/size-inflation

Just measure your waist. If it's over 31.5 inches you need to lose weight.

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/lifestyle/why-is-my-waist-size-important/

My bmi score Says I'm obese. Standing 5'9" weighing 17st 7oz I'd say its canny accurate 😂

According to the NHS BMI calculator I am verging on dangerously underweight. That's bollocks. I'm just little. I'm 5ft 3, 7 and a half stone and wear a size 8.

No it doesn't - it puts you at a healthy weight - see screen grab for 5'3" and 7 stone 7lbs for female aged 40

www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/bmi-calculator/

MarilynSlumroe - well, you really are ignorant if you think fat people never have eating disorders!
If someone has rapidly gone from 11 stone to 7 stone and is deemed not to need any treatment because they are not yet anorexic, whereas someone who has gone from 8 stone to 6 stone 9lbs is immediately treated because the guidelines say that that pound of difference is where the cut off point is, regardless of preceding history and timeline, then the guidelines are being followed too rigidly to the detriment of an obviously ill person.

MarilynSlumroe - but I have encountered a genuinely anorexic person. Several, in fact. I have an anorexic neighbour. I have a couple of close friends who managed to recover from anorexia. All diagnosed according to your guidelines, too. I also had a friend at school who ultimately died of anorexia.

It's true I am working on the evidence of only my own clothing items Gwenhwyfar . The size 10 high street stuff I bought 20 years ago fits me pretty much the same as the high street size 10 stuff I buy now. I can't do up my Mum's size 10 wedding dress from the 1970s though.

“Thanks for trying to get everyone to turn against me...” was thecsaying on the tip of your tongue why kill a man whose committing suicide?”

Cake was lovely ta.

So true, shiny

BMI is not an accurate measure. But even assuming it was, people in the overweight bracket live longer than any of the others. Don’t focus on BMI as a measure of health. How’s your cardio fitness? What’s your core strength like?

Keep moving, eat well - ignore the BMI.

slightly overweight category, cauliflower

Size ten at your height and weight is quite unusual but not unheard of. I'd have assumed more a fourteen.

I'm that exact height and weight and a size 10-12

Definetly wobbly though

Isn't it odd how different we can be! I'm 5'3 and 9 stone. I fit a size 10 and still have areas that are definitely wobbly.

When I was 10st 5 at same height I was definitely overweight. I'm 9st 11 now and it's still showing as overweight. I'd agree. I need to shift some pounds. It’s crap being short

Another here who is 5'8.5" and more like 10st. I am a size 10 and s classic pair, very slim on top. I'd definitely think 10st at 5'3" to be overweight, but if you are very active then there is more to consider than just the numbers.

Well I can only go by myself but at Easter last year I was

5'7"
11s2lb
Size 14
Waist 32in
Bust34in cup f-ff

What's your stats as that is a much better indication but as your not long after giving birth it complicates the measurements might be out temporarily due to body changes.

I think what we see as slim and what we see as fat have changed. My much older relatives talk of having a 18 inch waist which would be viewed as too skinny in modern society but is perfectly healthy.

The only people who ignore BMI guidelines are the ones who refuse to admit they are overweight. They have been brainwashed to believe that chubby bodies are "normal" and healthy. Sadly they ARE now normal, but they are certainly not healthy. This is why our society is in total crisis due to obesity.

I’m a few inches taller and I’d just barely be a healthy weight at 10+ stone. So overweight at 5’3 seems perfectly correct to me.

I barely fit into my vintage size 12’s, but I have size 8 clothing from the high street that’s too loose to wear. Judging your weight by your clothing size hasn’t worked well for about 50 years.

There are more accurate ways to measure yourself- height and waist measurements seem to be more in vogue. There is very limited research showing 'big boned' to be something that exists- without a dexa scan you can't determine your bone density, and several studies have showed minimal bone density difference between obese and not obese people.

How did I know the OP would be classed as overweight?