To think I am not overweight?

[orangegerbil]

According to BMI, I am overweight with a reading over 27. I am 5'3 and weigh almost 11 stone. I haven't weighed myself in years so I am a little shocked.

I could do with losing a bit around my tummy, but I am a size 10 so I can't be that bad surely? I do have quite a big chest but that can't be the only reason for my weight.

The NHS uses BMI calculators so I am slightly concerned about it as it must be a trusted way of measuring things. Is it possible to have a high BMI but not be overweight?

But a size 10 in Next doesn't mean anything. They pluck numbers out of thin air.
The fashion industry have a lot to answer for.

I'm not sure how you fit into a 10. I suppose it depends on body shape too but I'm an inch smaller and the same weight but definitely very overweight. Sounds like you're happy so don't worry.

Tailored clothes 😂😂😂 Yes it’s overweight, unless you are muscular, I’m similar proportions and size 12. It’s not obese by a long chalk but lockdown has added extra fluff to most people (in the real world)

I train 5-6xweek, lift heavy weights and have a bodyfat percentage of around 20%.

Most people don't train that much, or at all. BMI is an indicator for them, even though not for you.

@Bitchinkitchen

Yeah, that's definitely overweight, I'm overweight at 5'4 and 10st.

Actually you're not.

You have a BMI or just under 25, therefore in the normal weight category.

You may not feel your best at this size but that is not the same thing .

Generally we shouldn’t be going by clothes sizes at all, they are ridiculous these days and based on vanity sizing.

If your scales are right, then yes you are definitely clinically overweight. I’m a couple of inches taller than you and feel chubby at 10 stone but also fit in a size 10 at that size. If you are happy with being a bit overweight you didn’t need to lose weight but if you want to be optimally healthy, it wouldn’t hurt to lose half a stone to ten pounds.

I'm 5ft 2in and when I weigh 11 stone I'm a size 16. With gg cup boobs maybe you are carrying extra weight there.

Op your scales sound wrong.You have a large bust for frame but your back, waist and hips are small. At your height 11st is big. Try different scales.

@dotdashdashdash No I've never had a professional fitting. I know I'm a D cup and a 32 restricts my breathing so I wear a 34.
How does it work?

For a woman you'd be better off with it being between 20-25%
Depends on the age and you know that. 27% for a menauposal woman is quite good, notwithstanding that some women naturally carry more fat than others and that's not always a bad thing (when it's mainly hip and bottom rather than stomach).

I'm a good 5 inches taller than you and more than a stone lighter than you. I know I need to lose a bit of weight.

You're overweight.

How about a non doctored picture (anonymous of course)?

Urgh, this thread is too long, I keep losing track...

The weight/height ratio sounds overweight. I'm a bit taller, and a bit less heavy, and I'm just about in the healthy range.
The hip/waist sound like a size 10 or 12, and not particularly overweight. But what about thigh circumference? (fatter legs, with fat all the way around, can still look well proportioned)
The chest measurements don't sound they'd fit in a size 10 at all, more like 12 or 14.
Dress size is a very inaccurate measure, don't trust it. But your scales may also be wrong. Try another one?

Also if you have lots of body muscle, BMI means nothing.

Try different scales.

I am same weight and height, size 14 and think I am a bit overweight.

At that height and with those measurements I’d expect you to be around 9st.Combined with the fact you were shocked I’d definitely try other scales.

My niece bought clothes from 3 shops recently, sizes 10, 12 and 14. They all fit her perfectly.
The other thing is, older women will know that sizing has changed over the years, and that may be why a BMI would show you as overweight, despite your small clothes size.
In 1966 I was 5'7" and my measurements were 36 26 38. Then, I was size 12-14. I'd be interested to know what size that would make me now.

@EmbarrassingAdmissions, I’m not sure how useful that visualiser is. I plugged my stats in and there wasn’t much difference between my body now (BMI of 22) and my body how it used to be pre middle age at a BMI of 18.5. The again between an 18.5 and a 15. Whereas in reality there is a HUGE difference on my actual body and certainly would be between 18.5 & 15!

The body gallery is interesting though. It relies on honesty, lack of filters and honest use of ‘angles’ but it is good to see the variance.

I'm the same weight and 5ft 5 and definitely overweight. My boobs are 32E and I could squeeze into a ten top.

[quote EmbarrassingAdmissions]And there's this visualizer where you put in your weight and height and then tinker with the model it gives you of yourself:

www.bmivisualizer.com/[/quote]
Well I'm definitely overweight (which I know)

Gives me a BMI of 27.7

And it doesn't make me look half as fat round the middle as I am!

I'm 5'7" and weighed 11 stone when I was 40 weeks pregnant! I look and feel my best when I am 9 stone. I am 9st 11lb at the moment due to lack of exercise in lockdown and I think I look awful. I'm definitely not a size 10 anymore!

At 5"3 I'm a comfortable weight around 8 stone 3 - 8. Usually (when not pregnant) I do weight training so have a bit of muscle plus 30E boobs. 11 stone does sound an awful lot for our height.

Next clothes are outrageously oversized. I am (I think ) a size 8. I have 2 pairs of shorts and a skirt from next that are size 6 and they completely fall down without a belt. I have a very straight up and down figure so I havent got a tiny waist, I think they must be more like a 10 or 12 (which is great if you're size 10 or 12 and can fit into a 6 but a bit rubbish if you're size 8 and the smallest size they do is way too big!)

I train 5-6xweek, lift heavy weights and have a bodyfat percentage of around 20%

You have a lean body mass of approx. 112lbs?

As a sidelight on variation, I'm taller than you, approx 35lbs lighter than you and have a bodyfat (now) of 20.5% (by DXA scanning - did you use this or the water tank/Bodypod or similar?).

I’m 5ft 3” and have been between 8st and 12st, but everybody’s body shape is different. When I gain weight it predominantly sits on my stomach and thighs (you can imagine my unbridled joy at this) at 8st I was a size 10 (going back a few years so probably an 8 in today’s sizing)

The OP has big boobs and a 27” waist, at 11st I was very obviously overweight & my waist was 38” & I wore a size 14. At 8st my waist was 26” so I’d have to say with a 27” waist she certainly isn’t carrying weight in the areas that are shown to be the most unhealthy in terms of the deposits of fat. Without a photo it’s impossible to say if she is overweight anywhere else? Most jeans have plenty of stretch in them now and I can still get a size 10 over my legs but they certainly won’t fasten.

I’m lifting weights with some added cardio & the scales aren’t moving much but I’m losing inches.