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?

The thing is are you comfortable in yourself?
If you don't feel ok then take a look at what you eat and maybe exercise.
But if you are happy then perhaps 27 is right for you.

You are overweight for your height. I'm 5'7" and used to weigh 11.5 stone and was JUST getting into the overweight category according to BMI. I wore a size 14 so definitely not humongous, but I wasn't happy.

I've since lost a stone so now weigh 10.5 stone. I now have a BMI of 23 so on the higher end of normal and wear a size 10/12. Still not entirely happy and want to lose another half a stone. In the skinny pre DC days I was a size 8!

Honestly though, as long as you're happy OP, does it matter? A BMI of 27 isn't terribly overweight.

OP said she's not overweight, or maybe I'm reading a different thread.

I don't care if OP is overweight, I'm just thinking her volume doesn't match 11 stone & muscle won't explain the difference.

Besides, those athletes are amazing specimens to look at.

I'm 5ft 3 current 11 half stone and top end 12. To get in a ten I need to be 10 7lb to 10 10lb so it's not that unbelievable she is a ten. I feel over weight at 11 and half. Nice at 11 but a bit chubby and best at 10 and half. I carry on stomach too and I think if you dress well for your shape it can be deceiving. People express suprise at my weight

Just goes to show how much clothes vary. I am 5’6, weigh just under 8 stone (small framed and active) and wear a size 10. Mad.

5”3 and nearly 11 stone is unmistakably overweight. Vanity sizes have a lot to answer for.

@orangegerbil Have a look online at photos of Jessica Ennis Hill.
She's 5 4" and weighs 8st 9.

Even if you add in a few pounds for your boobs, something's not right with your image of your body being 'okay' apart from your tummy.

I'm 5"8, 13 stone and I am very overweight, almost obese. I find it really hard to imagine how someone your height and weight could be a healthy weight.

I’m 5,5 ft and weight 8st 8lbs (56kg, 123lbs roughly) and I’m size 8. I fairly muscular. At 10st I was 12-14.

I am 5ft 2" and if I do not stick to about 9st I know I am carrying excess weight and it always goes around my stomach. No way can you be a size 10 at 11 stone.

My waist is 27inch (before I start eating ).

I’m 5’4” and got down to 10.3 for my wedding (I’d had a baby 9 months before my wedding and a c section so could actually only start exercising 6 months before) felt good but could’ve done with carrying on.

Let it creep back up to 10.12 and felt overweight.

Now pregnant again so am about 12 stone if not more. Can’t wait to lose it again after this one and will be going for a target weight of around 9.7 this time

BMI really isn't usually wrong. It is usually right for most people. So yes OP you are overweight. It matters because it means your health will be worse statistically overall. It's probably not a huge risk at a BMI of 27 though. If you are happy with how you look and how you function and you don't want a career in modelling then it doesn't matter does it?

Clothes size is much less truthful than BMI though so please don't go on that. All the High St stores you name are the worst for vanity sizing: M&S and Next I always have to buy a size down ie an 8 or 10 when I am 10/12 in other stores. Add to that stretchy clothes and low cut waists and clothes size as an indicator is fairly pointless.

What might make more sense is to try on some clothes from last summer and check if they still fit.
If you are slightly overweight and gaining gradually then at some point it will affect your health and function and it might be best to make some changes now whilst it's still easy to do vs when you have more to lose.

@Wannabegreenfingers

Sorry, but I'm 5ft 11" and weigh 11stone 6lb and a size 12/14. How on earth at 5ft 3" are you a size 10. You must squeeze your self into clothes?!

In answer to your question. Yes you are over weight for your height.

I’m 5’ 5 and while I’m bigger at the moment, a couple of years ago I was 12 stone and wore a size 12 in pretty much every shop. I exercised a lot and was very toned. People on MN told me I couldn’t possibly be a size 12 at that weight... but I was

something's not right with your image of your body being 'okay'

The op can think her bodies okay if she wants...she can think it's fantastic is that's how she feels.

Who are you to tell someone that them feeling ok about their body is wrong?

You clearly have your own issues. Stop trying to force them onto someone else

I’m a little bit taller than you and weigh a little bit less. Also big of bust and I can believe you are in size 10, at least on the bottom I am a size 10 in most high street stores. My hips and bum are slim. I carry all the weight on my boobs and tummy. Unfortunately this also seems to be the least healthy type of fat 😭

My only advice to you would be don’t panic and start slimming world or some crash diet and end up messing up your metabolism. Just see if you can make some smaller changes - eat lots of veg, cut out some treats, up the exercise. Concentrate on having a healthy lifestyle rather than losing weight and probably that little bit extra will slide off.

Oh @formerbabe you really do come over as if you are latching onto me and looking for a spat. Why is that?

You seem to get the wrong idea all the time and misunderstand.

Read some of the other posts here and you will see that loads of posters are saying that in their opinion, the OP must be carrying more weight other than what is on her tummy, but not recognising it as such.

Same thing I said but you choose to pick on me.
Bully someone else now.

I think this shows how we have lost sight of what a normal, healthy body looks like. Time after time I hear people talking about clearly fat, overweight people and saying, 'they are not fat'. Or 'not that fat' even though they are. We are a nation of overweight people. Fact. As a PP said, you can really see it when you go to Europe. On holiday in Italy a few years ago, and was really struck by how I didn't really see fat Italians - some middle aged women and men with normal middle aged spread - but that was it.
I am from the West Midlands, which I think is the fattest part of the UK, and I am astonished when I go back there are how much bigger people are than they were when I was at school. We've really piled on the pounds as a nation.

Sorry OP - you are overweight.

@orangegerbil

I'm a size 10 in most high street shops - new look, M&S, NEXT etc

My sister is a size 14 but fits into quite a few size 10s in NEXT and M&S.

Not so much New Look though.

I'm commenting on your post because you told the op that her feeling that her body was ok was wrong. I'm not bullying you..I'm pulling you up on making unpleasant comments

I think it’s your wording @JinglingHellsBells

No fat Italians 😂😂😂 that’s a crock of shit.

You are misreading@formerbabe.

Someone's perception of whether they are overweight or not, is not the same as being happy or unhappy with their body image.

She can feel great about her body.

I meant that - as so many other people have said here- that what is now 'normalised' as being a healthy body size (ie IMAGE) is skewed as so many people are overweight.

Get it?

I'm 5"5" and my max healthy weight is 11st. Over that I'm overweight

@Bitchinkitchen

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

No you aren't! Your BMI is 23.9. You might want to lose weight but you aren't clinically overweight. Maybe look in to body dysmorphic disorder?