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?

@ladyflumpalot it's easily done. I find weight so confusing.

If I convert kg to stone on my phone it will come up as for example 11.8 something. But j am not 11.8 stone. I am 11 stone 13.

I can't work out how to easily convert it. The nhs bmi checker converts it properly if I type one in then switch between stone and kg so might just use that.

I can see why they decided to use bmi to try and standardise it.

I am wearing size 12 jeans today. At 5 ft 4 and 11 stone 13 I shouldn't be a size 12. When I was 17 stone I could squeeze into size 18 at that shop....But only Just and they rubbed and wore away they were so tight. I do know my weights going down and my dress size at that shop is going down in proportion. But it certainly doesn't mean I'm a size 12 in all shops!

Re the eating disorders discussion up-thread:
Okay, going by the 2013 DSM 5 (diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders 5, one of the two main psychiatric diagnostic nosological systems) a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (AN) requires a significantly low body weight for age, height and sex. It also requires a host of specific behavioural and psychological symptoms. There is no longer an exact BMI cut off for AN in the DSM-V but severity is classified corresponding to BMI:
Mild: ≥ 17 kg/m2
Moderate: 16-16.9 kg/m2
Severe: 15-15.9 kg/m2
Extreme: < 15 kg/m2
Someone showing the behavioural and psychological features of AN but without a significantly low body weight would typically receive a diagnosis of 'other specified feeding or eating disorder - atypical anorexia nervosa' (abbreviated OSFED; EDNOS has been superseded as a category).
It is possible to have an eating disorder without 'fitting' any of the categories specified in any diagnostic scheme. In this case, a label of unspecified feeding or eating disorder would be applied (UFED). Individuals with UFED are just as deserving and needful of treatment as those with other 'specified' disorders.
It is worth noting that the most prevalent eating disorder is binge-eating disorder, which is associated with having a higher body weight. As such, although not everybody living in a larger body has an eating disorder, a sizeable proportion of these individuals DO and would benefit from treatment and support. This is rarely forthcoming in the NHS and people rarely seek treatment, not least due to endemic weight stigma and discrimination in the UK and similar countries.
(I'm a research psychologist specialising in weight management, body image and eating disorders).
Re: BMI, it's a blunt instrument and there's sure to be a lot of people it doesn't work for. Each individual case needs to be considered on its own merits. At a population epidemiological level, it is a useful and reliable indicator of increased health risks with increased adiposity.
More information on eating disorders can be found here - BEAT the eating disorder charity have an excellent helpline if you have any concerns you'd like to discuss informally. By you, I mean anyone reading this, not referring to a specific poster on the tread.

I was 5ft3 and 10st4 and I was pushing a 12/14 so I think it depends where you're buying your size 10 clothes...

don't think their BMI chart is a one size fits all
No one said it was. There's quite a range from BMI 18.5 - 25, quite enough to cover different frame sizes, and different body shapes in women. The NHS guide does acknowledge that the BMI chart does not differentiate between fat and muscle, but even so, for the average person there is still usually a correlation between BMI, body fat % and waist measurement. This is especially true for women, because it's much harder for women to develop s

(see my post above)
Significant muscle development without dedicated training.

I'm 5'4" just and just under 9stone and a size 10. I'm also quite muscly.

I went up to just over 10 stone after DS1 and I couldn't fit into a 12.

I'm 5,7 and 9st 8lb and Im a 10/12 I also have Alot of muscle
Boohoo clothes are huge I'm a size 6/8 from there.

BMI isn't the be-all and end-all. It's a guide but people vary. At my fittest, I was still classed as overweight despite carrying very little fat on a chunky build. I was weighed and measured at military check-ups so it was accurate but they nagged me until I turned up in cycling shorts and sports top and they could see my body - they then described me as 'one of the fittest people' they had despite being classed as overweight. (Wish that was still the same, now I'm just fat)

OP, you know your own body as long as you aren't kidding yourself. A lot of gyms do special sessions where you can get your body fat measured for a more accurate gauge but a rough test is to jump up and down in front of the mirror naked and see what wobbles that shouldn't wobble! 😂

Apologises for the lack of response but theres a lot of comments. I messured my waist this morning and it's 31inches. From what i can see this is normal for my height?

No I think people are so used to overweight normalisation.
It's not healthy and I'm looking forward to the end of the chubby trend.

31 is pretty large at your height, 31:63 = 0.492. Just under threshold to be 'critical'.

31 inch waist is 12-14

I am 5ft 5, weight 9 st 12 ( this morning) and wear a size 8, sometimes a 6 depending on the shop.
But I'm very muscular, have visible abs, and muscle definition, my arse is hard. I think my bmi is around 22. My waist is 25 a 26 inches, depending on whether or not I've just eaten etc.

I don't think a 31 inch waist would make you a size 10

I don't think a 31 inch waist would make you a size 10
Clothes sizes aren't standardised so it's perfectly possible.

I'm over 11 stone and I fit in a size twelve bottoms at 5ft 5, some tops are 10. I'm active and exercise lots, eat healthily. Don't give a hoot about the BMI. I know I'm healthy and fit so who cares. The BMI isn't known to be completely accurate.

All this 'well I'm this height/weight/size so the op can't possibly be a size 10 or is buying big sizes' is so negative in my eyes. We are all different shapes and sizes in body. Well done to the op for doing well after having a baby and trying to feel good. Just continue to do whatever it takes to make you feel good.

You've just had a baby - it's takes 2 years for your body to recover

Missing point of thread here and it’s been said a few times but I am the same height as you, 2 stone lighter and I am just comfortably fitting in a 10. I find it really interesting how people can weigh so different but wear the same size... maybe that’s a new thread

"I don't think a 31 inch waist would make you a size 10
Clothes sizes aren't standardised so it's perfectly possible."

Did I post above about the Hobbs dress? My waist is around 31/32 inches (so a diabetes risk even though I'm not overweight) but I can fit into a 10 in big shops, although with that waist size I should really be a 16. I'm 12 in most shops and a 14 in 'young' shops.

If you look up what dress sizes on average are, then a 31 waist is a 14. Some shops differ, but in general that's the guideline for the U.K.

Clothes sizes are bollocks

Get your body fat percentage properly measured

I am grossly overweight once I hit 10st and I am 5'5"

60% of UK adults are overweight
they will be iller and die younger than those who stay at or below a healthy weight

At 7 weeks post birth I'm 89kg, 5'6 and all the 16s and some of the 14s I bought to get through pregnancy are so loose they're falling down. At 79kg pre pregnancy I was a 12 but could wear a 10 in skater dresses. Fairly extreme hourglass normally - 28kk and carry fat on arse and thighs with slimmer waist. Currently carrying more than usual on tummy, boobs off the scale (bursting out of small/thunder Molke so 32M? ie don't want to know) and a bit more on legs.

No one has ever believed how much I weigh...

BMI is a total waste of time. It means nothing and is not in any way an indicator of health or fitness levels.

BMI is a total waste of time. It means nothing and is not in any way an indicator of health or fitness levels.
Bollocks
BMI is a proxy for body fat
waist / height and body fat are GOOD indicators of long term health
BMI is a good match for them

Fat people will have less years of healthy life on average

Yes my waist is about 31 inches and I have a size 10 Hobbs pencil dress that fits perfectly. BMI may be flawed but dress sizes are completely meaningless.

I'm 5 ft 5, 8 stone 12 and a size 10. I also have a low body fat percentage. I am surprised your also a size 10 at your weight/height

I must admit, I am surprised that the OP is a size 10 as well because I am a size 10 and I am 60kg (9st 6lb) and 170cm (5'7").

Then again, I suppose it all depends on where you buy your clothes as all shops seem to have slightly different sizing.