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?

I've been 9st and looked too skinny and had many comments from friends and family saying so.

That's parr for the course though. Almost nobody will ever tell you when you are over-weight. If you say yourself that you are overweight, they will jump in and tell you you aren't. If you are a healthy weight, you will have absolutely tonnes of people quick to tell you how starved or miserably thin you look.

If you are healthy level of muscular, it's not quite as bad though there are some people who won't be able to resist telling you to be careful you don't end up looking like a man.

I'm 8.13, 30f cup, 37 inch hips and 25 inch waist.

Your numbers don't add up, buy new scales!

I’m the same height and around 8 stone 3 generally (I’m pregnant at the moment so a couple of pounds more), when I was at uni I ballooned to 10.5 stone (too much drinking and eating burgers at 3am) and although my clothes size was 10/12 I looked fat, my face looked like a ball 😆. At 11 stone you are overweight, you might carry it better than I did but it is overweight.

I think vanity sizes have a lot to answer for, I wouldn’t judge your size or health from your clothing size. I’m a size 8 in the majority of shops but in next I buy a 6. I am no way on this earth a size 6. I’m probably an 80s size 10, not at all skinny, just slim, I do have a small waist though (not quite as small right now!).

I got a real insight into vanity sizing when I attempted to make my own clothes. I am 9st and 5ft4, and a size 8 -10 in most high street brands. When I had to choose a pattern size, which have broadly remained unchanged since the 1950’s, I was just about squeezing into a 14.

Shop sizes are meaningless these days, and I would say a BMI of 24+ is pushing it for most people.

At 5'3", BMI underestimates your obesity status. In S Korea, the obese category starts at a BMI of 25, so you would be categorised as obese there. You are deluded.

This thread really does show that we as a nation are really in denial about how much bigger we have become. There is no way 9st is "too skinny" for someone who is 5' 3". It's not even slightly skinny.

Speaking as a nurse, us and DR's don't agree that the current BMI is an accurate way to measure people being healthy/overweight etc. It is aimed at white people, it doesn't factor in muscle, how people distribute weight, ethnicity, build etc. Before I got pregnant I was going to the gym regularly, overweight according to the BMI calculator. I'm 5"2, naturally muscular, massive boobs, broad shoulders which have a lot of muscle on them for some reason, same with my arms, slim legs, peachy bum. I do have a but of a double chin. I just carry weight differently. Some ladies are pear shaped and would have much skinnier arms, smaller boobs, slimmer waist than me but have larger bums and legs etc.

@alittleprivacy

I've been 9st and looked too skinny and had many comments from friends and family saying so.

That's parr for the course though. Almost nobody will ever tell you when you are over-weight. If you say yourself that you are overweight, they will jump in and tell you you aren't. If you are a healthy weight, you will have absolutely tonnes of people quick to tell you how starved or miserably thin you look.

If you are healthy level of muscular, it's not quite as bad though there are some people who won't be able to resist telling you to be careful you don't end up looking like a man.

That's exactly it.

People looking 'too skinny' at perfectly healthy weights, often comes from the fact 64% of Brits are overweight/obese.

So if that's the comparison, you'll always get people who pipe up and say silly things.

I'm also 5ft3 and weighed myself before lockdown and was 10 3/4 stone with BMI of 27 - was mortified as I didn't think I was that overweight but that being said I exercised more over lockdown and ate healthy and lost over a half stone getting closer to the target BMI of 25 and I look and feel much better

Shop sizes are meaningless these days, and I would say a BMI of 24+ is pushing it for most people.

I agree. I have crept near to the 25 mark over lockdown and I look a bit fat, I really do.

How is BMI a better way to measure than size in inches? BMI doesn’t account for muscle mass. It’s been known to be inaccurate in labelling very fit/athletic people as obese because of this

I’m the same height and weight as you and a couple of years ago (at the same weight) I was a size 14. The last few items of clothing I’ve bought have been 12s, and they’re a bit roomy. Sizes have definitely got bigger!

I’m overweight- not hugely, but I definitely am.

I’m 5’5” and weigh 8st5 and I’m a size 10

@bibbitybobbitycats you’re wrong there. It actually can be dependent on where you carry the weight. I am 5’4 and due to a chronic illness at one point lost an excessive amount of weight and got down to 8 stone. That doesn’t sound too small for my height, but I looked borderline anorexic and the doctors were worried about me and even wrote that they thought I had an eating disorder. I was wearing size 2-4 clothes.

I'm not sure how you can be a size 10 at that height and weight. I weigh less than you and am 5 inches taller but a size 14.

People really not getting how weight can vary on every person. It doesn’t matter how much YOU weigh/what size you wear compared to OP. Everyone is different!

[quote PalmTreesPurple]@bibbitybobbitycats you’re wrong there. It actually can be dependent on where you carry the weight. I am 5’4 and due to a chronic illness at one point lost an excessive amount of weight and got down to 8 stone. That doesn’t sound too small for my height, but I looked borderline anorexic and the doctors were worried about me and even wrote that they thought I had an eating disorder. I was wearing size 2-4 clothes.[/quote]
PalmTrees I think you might have misread my post? I was saying that 9 stone at 5'3" is not skinny. That's a lot different to being 8 stone at 5'4", which is very slender.

It’s overweight. Surprised you can fit into a 10 without it being super tight on you.

That said, I’ve got a stone to lose and I’m failing!

At nine stone I was a size 6. I’d say that’s quite skinny? @bibbitybobbitycats

@PalmTreesPurple

At nine stone I was a size 6. I’d say that’s quite skinny? *@bibbitybobbitycats*

You had a chronic illness though, which I imagine might've made a difference.

Generally speaking no 5ft 3" woman is going to be 'too skinny' at 9 stone.

It’s been known to be inaccurate in labelling very fit/athletic people as obese because of this

Athletes and people very involved in fitness aren't relying on BMI. It's meant as an indicator for the general population. At my height the healthy range covers almost three stones, so allows for different body types.
I wouldn't want to be any heavier than i am at the moment - my BMI is 23. I might not be clinically overweight with a BMI of 25 but I would be heavier than i would like for my frame.

Obviously lots of rugby players and top athletes on MN though!

How would a chronic illness have any bearing on what I looked like at 9 stone? @WorraLiberty

Sorry OP but something doesn't add up. You have to be wrong somewhere.

I'm 5'2'', so only one below you. I'm 27in waist, so like you. I'm 38in at the hip, so 2 more than you. I'm 34B chest so significant larger back than you. Yet I'm 8st 10 and clearly older than you.

Bone density can impact but more than 20% of totally weight doesn't seem realistic.

I’m 5’4 and weigh 9 stone 2lb

I’m a 10-12 in most clothes

Yes @orangegerbil you are overweight