Normal BMI, large waist.

[lasangoles]

My BMI is 24. I'm a size 12. Feel like my weight is OK but could lose a bit. Reading the NHS website, it says you should lose weight if your waist is bigger than 31.5 inches, and see a GP if your waist size is over 34.5 inches and you're at risk of serious health conditions. My waist size is 37.5! Really anxious about my body image. If I lose 6 inches, surely my BMI will be really low? Anyone else experienced similar? I'm 5ft8 and weigh around 11 stone.

Christ this is a depressing post. I love the NHS so much but so much emphasis is put on weight, BMI, measurements etc. No wonder most women (and a lot of men!) have so many body issues.

You're absolutely perfect - I cannot urge you enough to ignore this absolute rubbish. It would be a little different if you were so overweight your joints hurt etc. Please don't feel you have to diet.

But the advice re waist size must be there for a reason?

You've just prompted me to measure mine, the only place it's 31.5 inches is practically under my bust round the bottom of my rib cage!! I'm 5ft 6 with a BMI of 23.5 and a dress size 10 (sometimes even an 8). I've lost a few lbs recently and would like to loose a few more but i don't think i could get down that low unless i'm measuring my waist in the wrong place! I wouldn't even describe myself as apple shaped.

Are you sure you’re taking the correct measurement? I know that sounds daft but double check exactly where they want you to measure.

Yep. Half way between bottom of ribs and hips. It's not even the widest part of my waist...

Im the same! My waist has always been large despite not being overweight. I have no clue why either!! Following with interest.

I am the opposite to you OP - size 12, but BMI of 27.5 and 31 inch waist. I'm 5ft 2 and 10st 10lb. I think I need to lose weight more than you do.

@lasangoles

But the advice re waist size must be there for a reason?

Yes, it is. Please ignore the above post. It's because a larger waist measurement indicates you may have visceral fat around your internal organs which can lead to health problems. I would try and lose a few more pounds.

Yeah, to fat shame people.

Imagine if every single person in the world, regardless of height, build, career (think rugby player or builder), had a waist under 31.5. It would be pretty odd if someone's body physically will not allow them to shrink their waist to that level without them being seriously underweight.

I'm the same. Healthy BMI but waist over the maximum suggested by the NHS. I've always been apple shaped, and since having children it's become more pronounced, so not sure what I could do about it?

I’m slightly shorter than you(about an inch) and gathered some weight mainly around my waist during lockdown.
My weight is slightly less than 10st now (was around10.5) so slowly getting there.I noticed my trousers getting a bit loose and my waist is coming back :)
There was a thread here about needing to lose just a few pounds(will try to find it)
Go for it if you’re ready.

I didn’t feel comfortable with additional weight as not only moved up the size in clothes(no money to replace the wardrobe) but also watched some friends and family struggling with it.

Measure roughly where your belly button is. Although saying that I’m 5ft4 and weigh 9st7 and my waist is 31”, I’m a size 10 but seem close to worrying too which is madness! I’d love to lose about 7lbs but I’d probably only lose an inch at the most?? I am not overweight and smack in the middle of healthy BMI so these figures make no sense.

Here

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4010952-To-ask-how-to-lose-weight-when-not-actually-overweight

that was me a couple of years ago.
weight within healthy bmi range, but waist measurement greater than half my height (string test).
had nash (unhappy liver) and was pre-diabetic - found in a routine blood test, I didn't have any symptoms.

I'm an apple shape and had to get down to a BMI of around 22-23 before my waist was under 31.5,

It's now around 30 and I'm not sure it'd get much smaller no matter how thin I was - I'm very short waisted with little distance between the top of my hip bones and my bottom rib so there's not a lot of space to go in!

You should measure around the smallest part of your body though - not everyone's waist is around their belly button. Depends on your build - mine is about an inch above.

The reason that it's an important measurement (probably much better than BMI) is that abdominal fat is a much bigger risk factor than fat elsewhere on your body. If you're unlucky (like me) to store fat there rather than arse/hips then it's worth trying to shift it.

I am the same which really just means I should lose a stone or two and get to a lower BMI. it is just the shape - healthy weight (only just - top of the band and the band for most women in within 2 stones) but larger waist.
The answer is often go to the bottom end of a healthy BMI not the top end as having all the fat around the waist is pretty dangerous.

Part of the reason for the advice about seeing your GP is because if you aren’t overweight but are large around the waist, it could be because of a medical cause. For example, enlarged organs, ovarian cyst, ascites etc.

You’re meant to measure your waist at it’s narrowest point.
I think the reason that waist size is mentioned by NHS is because it’s a risk factor/ indicator for heart problems.

I think apple shaped women are more likely to have a waist measurement over 31.5 inches as this is where they carry their weight. I think the reason they look for it to be below that is, as pp mentioned, visceral fat around the middle is more dangerous to overall health.

BMI is a useful measure and so is waist measurement. Usually you can stand to lose some weight if either of them are over the recommended number. Obviously build and muscle mass have an effect on it but not so much that either should be totally disregarded.

I posted a thread about this a few days ago. I’m 5ft6, 10.5st and my waist measures 34ins. My BMI is normal (just under 24) but I’m visibly fat, especially on my tummy. I’ve come to the conclusion that it depends on your frame and shape. I have a very small frame and I carry weight on my tummy so 10.5st is fat for me, whereas someone with a bigger frame who carries their weight differently would look slim at the same weight.

On the recent Michael Mosley TV programme it said waist should be less than half height.

Targeted exercise. Exercise brings your waist measurement down and lowers your body fat % without necessarily lowering your weight. It builds muscle.

I think the recommended thing is that your waist is less than half your height as clearly the same waist size on someone 5ft and 5ft 10 will not represent the same thing.

Agree with others, you measure the slimmest part of your waist.

Are you bloated at all, or maybe not very fit? When I'm fitter (been ill lately so fitness has declined), I'm chubbier although the same weight as being more toned firms me up more, so same weight but slimmer.

I’m not in the UK and the waist size advice is slightly different here: waist size shouldn’t be allowed exceed half of your height.

Is indeed to do with visceral fat, having the limit based on height rather than being fixed takes frame size into account, well a bit anyway. IMO the NHS does tend to massively oversimplify in its advice.

@amijustparanoidorjuststoned

Yeah, to fat shame people.

Imagine if every single person in the world, regardless of height, build, career (think rugby player or builder), had a waist under 31.5. It would be pretty odd if someone's body physically will not allow them to shrink their waist to that level without them being seriously underweight.

Err....rugby players don't have thick middles. They have well developed legs and glutes but they are toned and tight through the core.