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’m 5ft 3 and when I was 7 stone 7 I wore six 4-6 including in the very unforgiving Lipsy dresses, it does go to show everyone’s proportions are different and weight is distributed in different ways.

I look ill if I go below 10.5 stone and I’m 5ft 2. The joys of boobs I think. According the the calculators 10.5 is overweight though

Mine are ridiculous too @Annabanana1234

I find it dubious that you would ill in a medical sense at 10.5 stone whilst being 5'2". I am your height and 3.5 stone lighter than you and certainly don't look skinny - just healthy. You are about 50 lbs heavier than me and that can't be 25lbs a boob heavier!!

I too struggle to see how you could look ill, ie. Size 4? at over 10 stones for 5'2''.

Even at 8.10 stone and same height, I'm told I'm small but never been told I look ill!

I think the emphasis on heavy boobs is exaggerated! Women who have breast reductions owing to back ache from huge breasts don't have 'that' much weight loss. You're only talking of 1-2 lbs at most per breast.

My Mum is a 34F but she has never weighed more than 9st in her life and at that weight she went to WW as he ideal weight is around 8st 4 and she was 5 4" (has shrunk a bit in old age.)

Sorry but I think too many people have a distorted view of what normal and 'slim' (ie healthy) looks like. Not being unkind but there are a few photos on this thread of 'before and afters' and the 'befores' clearly show the person is overweight, yet they admitted they thought at the time they looked fairly slim.

What I meant was that my big boobs and relatively small waist are deceptive. Not that they actually account for my excess weight in any way.

@actiongirl1978

Well going on my size at 5ft6 and 9st11 I am in the normal weight category with a BMI of 22 and I still just about get into size 10s in some places.

Almost exactly the same height and weight here. I put on a few pounds during lockdown and some of my size 10 trousers from various places are feeling a bit snug.

I’ve always weighed more than my friends of a similar size and a few friends have been surprised at how ‘much’ I weigh.
I’ve put on a few pounds in lockdown but I’m 5 foot 5, usually 9 stone 7 ish and a size 8 -10. My best friend is a similar size and weighs a stone less.

@JinglingHellsBells, I totally agree with that. I was still the slimmest one in our team at work and that really distorted it for me, because I couldn't be overweight and the slim one at the same time.

I am surprised by people saying they look ill at 9 or 10st at my height. My recommended weight range starts at 7st 3lb!

The irritating thing about BMI is that it doesn't take the size of your frame into account

Of course it does. The healthy range is about 3 stone.

Someone with a small frame will naturally sit at the lower end of that range and someone with a large frame will be at the other end.

Both will be equally healthy (weight wise anyway).

Thanks @LockdownLoser You look good now in your photo, but TBH and TBRH in your 1st pic I'd have put you as obese. Well done on the weight loss!

You look good now in your photo, but TBH and TBRH in your 1st pic I'd have put you as obese

Do you honestly have no idea how rude your comments are? She had already said what her bmi was in that picture and what category it was in.

former I do think she means in that way. That pp said that she thought that she looked slim. She even said that you don't have to look huge to be obese (or somewhere within those lines).

I agree with Jingling if I see that photo (or myself for that matter) I would never think of it as just overweight or not huge.

@TheOrigBrave

The irritating thing about BMI is that it doesn't take the size of your frame into account

Of course it does. The healthy range is about 3 stone.

Someone with a small frame will naturally sit at the lower end of that range and someone with a large frame will be at the other end.

Both will be equally healthy (weight wise anyway).

Some people do seem to see the lower end of the range as a target though, even though they may not need to be there for health reasons.

With those hip and waist measurements you're slimmer than me and can't be overweight. Your scales must be out. Have you tried changing the batteries? Does it just measure weight or body fat/hydration etc?

"IME (for my body frame) for me to be a healthy BMI (and I mean 25) I actually have to be slim. I dont know if it's the same for everyone."

No. I can be a big size 12, going on size 14 and still be just about within the healthy range. I'd look a bit chubby on it though. I'm 5'3.

Op, are you pear shaped by any chance? Ie do you carry weight on your thighs and bum? Many pears have a small waist and depending on the style of clothes they wear can easily fit into smaller sizes which with a more structured fit with no stretch they may struggle with below waist.

That could maybe explain the issue folks are questioning.

Some people do seem to see the lower end of the range as a target though, even though they may not need to be there for health reasons.

IME, and judging by this thread, far more people see getting into the "healthy" category as the target, certainly not getting to the lower end of it.
We've seen a plethora of excuses as to why even a BMI of 25 is hard to attain - ranging from weightlifting to big boobs to "heavy bones" - but not much in the way of people acknowledging that a BMI of 20 or 21 may be better for them if they have small bones and a narrow frame.

By contrast, people are claiming BMI doesn't take frame size into account...when it totally does. It's bizarre how many weightlifters seem to appear on MN when BMI is being discussed.

What's your health like op? Do you exercise? Do you have soft body fat around your middle ?
I am quite overweight according to BMI but I'm a weightlifter, I have a small waist, and I do cardio 3x pw.

However, if I did no exercise and couldn't see my abs I would definitely cut down on calorie intake.

I’m a medium-large frame, 5ft 2 and when I weighed 8.5 stone I was a size 6/8.

A lot of factors influence how you look at a certain weight compared to someone else - fat distribution, body shape (Apple, pear etc) and proportions - whether you have long legs and a short body or vice versa, how muscular you are.

IME (for my body frame) for me to be a healthy BMI (and I mean 25) I actually have to be slim. I dont know if it's the same for everyone

Nope. I was fat at a BMI of 25. I was 11st, 5ft 6 and a size 12. I had huge boobs (G cup), chubby arms, a big arse and fat arms. My waist still wasn't that bad, but in photos I had a double chin.

I didn't take the comment as rude at all. I was agreeing that you can be obese and still think at the time, that you are slim.

Personally of i think of obese, I think of really, really big people and I am sure many others do to.

I was almost obese in the first photo amd can see now, from my healthier weight that actually I was pretty big, I just didnt see it at the time, I am sure lots of people feel or have felt the same way.

All I can see that no body is the same (no pun intended) and even our own bodies change over time even while being the same BMI. I don't think BMI is for everyone especially the borderline cases, but after all I'm one of those weight lifters ;)

Agreed @Fressia123. Last year my friend had the same waist and hip measurements as me and bigger boobs. We weighed ourselves and she weighed 1.5 stone less than me! Very confusing.

When I'm a 'healthy' BMI (last achieved via a break up and stress) I am very thin and you can see my ribs and collar bones.

It all makes no sense to me 🤷‍♀️