To be surprised I'm overweight?

[overweightcat]

I don't know why but it's really knocked me for six.
I went on the NHS BMI calculator and found out I'm classed as overweight.

I'm 26 and weigh 74kg at 169cm height. Looking at it writing it down I realise it's quite a big number (weight) and before even going on the calculator I knew I'm carrying some extra weight and wanted to loose some to feel a bit better about myself but didn't realise I'm overweight.

I don't hate my current body, my stomach isn't flat but not huge, I've got some stretch marks and a bit of looser skin from 2 pregnancies, my thighs and arms are a bit bigger but I didn't think it was excessive, I've got a good bum and ok boobs all things considered and I'm curvy(ish).
I'm also quite strong and I know some of it will be muscle but definitely not all I'm not silly enough to think that.

AIBU to be really surprised I'm classed as overweight?

For some reason it's really shocked me and I'm feeling very self conscious since finding out.

I do also think people carry weight differently, when I was 10st I was still a size 8, at 12 stone I’m a size 12, if you look/feel healthy I wouldn’t worry too much.

@mochojoes I’m not sure what the intent of the picture is, but surely it demonstrates why checking BMI serves a purpose - height in relation to your weight is significant. The shorter women look overweight, the taller ones don’t.

@crispysausagerolls but some don't though. My point was saying I weight 11 stone & an fat or thin isnt particularly helpful.

I am exactly the same height and weight as you OP. I am trying to get down to 70kg to be within healthy BMI again. Don't conflate being physically fit with being a healthy weight - I went for a 10km run yesterday and am very active. I am, however, overweight and want to get my BMI down for health reasons. Not only COVID-19 but also the risk of many cancers rises with BMI 25 and over.

@Pinkblueberry because height is relevant and body shape is. Personally I think if you're tall BMI is not that helpful.

Don’t focus too much on numbers.
Do you feel healthy?
Do you have energy?
Do you eat nourishing food?
Do you feel strong with good vitality?
Can you walk a few miles easily?
Is your mental health good and moods stable?

There’s so much more to health than what the scales say.

I’m exactly the same OP but I run 5k every day and I’m relatively fit and healthy
My stomach is really really flat and toned
However I have big strong thighs and big bum buy a small waist and big boobs
I could lose 7 lbs before I start to look drawn in my face
My husbands 6ft 3 and I6 .3 on the BMI he needs to lose 2stone to be on target
Last week time he was 14 stone was when he was in his twenties and training for a professional boxing fight 🤔 He’s now 53?

I would say BMI is a good indicator as long as you are not a serious weight-lifter or an olympic athlete.

Some have said it's not a good indicator- but I actually think what is classed as a healthy weight is quite wide in BMI calculators. If it says you are overweight then you definitely are!

I'm a couple of inch taller and weigh 68kg and in the healthy weight range. I think I would be healthier if I was towards the lower end of healthy weight though as as I am I carry visible fat on my stomach and thighs- BMI doesn't tell the whole story! I'm a size 12 in most shops.

@roseandrose so you think the size 8 women who is 6ft looks fat?

I agree not to focus too much on numbers and instead make small, sustainable changes to lose and then maintain a healthy weight over time. If you try to lose lots of weight quickly you could end up in a vicious gain/lose cycle.

Op, now you've realised, crack on with getting to a healthy weight. most likely it is just portion control and easy to sort. Snacking is a relatively new habit in society. Do you snack between meals?

You can predict the responses on threads about weight. They are always the same. Average sizes. look Gaunt at a healthy weight. Heavy set. Big bones. BMI doesn't woRk. Nonesense.

Some of the comments on this thread are ridiculous and clearly indicative the problem in society with obesity. Size 14 is overweight.

People who use the word gaunt are not only incredibly rude but probably just used to seeing round faces. My sister's weight yo -yos. When she gets to a healthy weight people she works with call her gaunt. She isnt. She just has cheek bones. They are also fat so I think some is not being used to seeing a face that doesn't look overweight and also jealousy.

Bmi is An effective indicator. Unless you're a competitive bodybuilder. I've never met someone who wears size 10 clothes shocked their bmi says theyre overweight.

Surely it’s optimal to be at the lower end of the healthy weight on BMI, rather than ONE point under fat, to just squeeze into healthy?!
When people obsess about being thin it's normally more to do with looks than health. Most people aren't worried about optimising their health they are more concerned with looking good.

@mochojoes why would it not be helpful if you’re tall (within reason obviously - and the same could be said for someone unusually short - what do you mean by tall?) Thats what BMI is - your weight in relation to your height, both are taken into account. That’s the point of it. You’re picture surely proves that point?

just google it @Pinkblueberry

mochojoes it is true that BMI calculations may be slightly skewed at both extremes of the height spectrum, however the OP is pretty average at 169 cms ( just over 5 '6" ).
There is actually a new BMI calculator which adjusts for very short/tall people. I don't think it really makes that much difference though.

Google what? @mochojoes. Just explain what you mean

As said before, a lot of people are overweight and our perception needs to change. DD had an emergency operation a few years ago - I was asked if she was at her usual weight, so I asked why they wanted to know - I was told it's rare for the hospital to see children within a normal healthy weight and they wanted to make sure she hadn't lost any weight recently.

OP, the good news is that you'd like to make some changes and checking your weight is a good way to start. Try not to get down over it, but instead make some health adjustments to your diet. Now is a great time to get out walking (fast if you feel reasonably fit anyway), cycling or running if you can face it. Also, it's easy to fit in a few tummy and arm exercises, even if it's just for five minutes a day.

BMI is not perfect. I am very short (just under 5 ft) and a size 6-8, I'm slim (not skinny) but I am heavy. I always have been heavier than I look, I'm 8.5 stone and according to the calculators I am very close to being overweight. I try not to focus too much on that now because at my smallest I was 7.2stone and that was with my restricting my calorie intake to 600 a day (so extremley unhealthy!) - and I was apparently a perfect weight then - not even close to being underweight

@overweightcat same here, I looked at my BMI on that calculator two years ago, first time I was so surprised. I fluctuated from overweight to obese, but now I'm back to overweight since I lost some weight.

It's easy for weight to creep on op. I convinced myself i looked fine at 168cm and 75.5 kilograms but I was overweight and busting out of my clothes. I thought I looked okay in the mirror but when I saw photos of myself I definitely looked overweight. I am now 63kg (2 stone loss) after 3.5 months of effort and I look and feel a million times better. I think I could ditch another half a stone without looking 'skeletal' so I agree with the poster who said losing 2.5-3 stone would be okay. But, you would also be fine if you lost 5-6kg and back into the healthy weight. I'd start with a small goal that gets you back into healthy, then see how you feel after that.

The most important thing is that you have weighed yourself, accepted you are overweight and come on here to talk about it, so you're obviously ready to lose some of that excess weight.

I’m 5ft 6, and about ten years ago crept up to 11stone eight. I didn’t own scales, was travelling a lot for work and eating out all the time. I knew I was having to buy a size 14 in most things, but I honestly got a HUGE shock when I stepped on scales in a hotel in Dublin airport!

I know it’s not possible just now, but I joined WW. I lost 8lb in a fortnight, then at my next weigh in had gained a pound (which was probably PMT) and felt so embarrassed I didn’t go back. What I did do was buy scales, and kept doing the plan at home until I got down to ten stone seven. I still weigh myself weekly and my weight has naturally settled between ten stone and ten 4. (Although I am currently much less active than usual, so who knows where I will be at the end of quarantine!)

I realise a lot of people hate scales, but I find they keep me accountable, and it’s much easier to stay on top of a few pounds.

You don't sound like you need to lose very much, you r BMI is 25.9. If you want to lose a bit of weight, come over to our Affirming April thread in Weightloss, we're a supportive bunch no judgement.

If you're one of the people that BMI doesn't apply to, you'll know about it, because getting to that point will have been a concerted effort (heavy resistance training at least 3 times a week).

If you're not one of those people and it says you're overweight, you probably are overweight.

I'm very overweight at the moment. Have managed to lose a stone in a month but could do with losing at least 3 more.
But people carry weight very differently. When I was in 6th form (20 years ago) I was a slim size 10 but still weighed 12 stone. I looked the same as my friends, who were all about 9-10 stone, except for my broad shoulders and massive boobs (not a blessing!!) I have a big frame, as do all my siblings.

Besides at a BMI of 24 the NHS says to maintain my weight. Think I'll take their advice over yours.

To be fair to JinglingHellsBells that means the NHS are recommending that you don't put any more weight on, not that you shouldn't lose any. Most people with a BMI close to 25 could stand to lose some. I say this as someone with a BMI of 24. I am definitely a bit podgier than I would like. I feel much better at around 21-22 BMI.