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.

OP I was in the situation a few years ago, healthy bmi but my waist is my problem area. I had a health review from BHF at work and was advised I was at high risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

It was a real wake up call. Apple shaped women unfortunately carry their weight in the most dangerous place.

Dr Mosley describes it as TOFI, thin on the outside, fat on the inside.

He recommends Time Restricted Eating, or intermittent fasting, to help address it. Something about hormones and metabolism. Metabolic disease? Something like that.

Have you measured your hips? I seem to recall that a 10" difference between waist and hips is a good proportion for adult women. I think a "large" waist is more of a health concern if it's greatly out of proportion from the rest of your body.

According to my diabetes prevention clinic, your waist is supposed to be half your height or less.

So if you are 5'8" then your waist can be up to 34" no problem.

@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.

I’m a rugby player (prop) my waist is usually 31 inches, I haven’t measured it recently as I’m rocking a lockdown dad bod so I know its higher than 31 right now. I know from kit ordering that in our 1st team we don’t have anyone with a waist bigger than 34 inches at full fitness and that includes guys who are 6’5”.

The attached photo is a 6’5” man with a 34 inch waist.

Isn’t the general rule that your waist shouldn’t exceed half your height.

People are shaped differently - some have an hourglass figure, others are straight up and down and don't have all that much of a waist (like me). There's only about an inch or so between the bottom of my ribcage and the top of my hip bone, so not a lot of room for a waist really.

Just to be sure you are measuring in the correct place.... bend sideways & where you crease - that is your waist.

My BMI is around 22, I do 3-minute planks and loads of abs exercises and my waist is around 34 inches.

Imagine if every single person in the world, regardless of height, build, career (think rugby player or builder), had a waist under 31.5.

Not every person in the world is a woman. For men, the maximum recommended waist size is 37".

I'm still confused as to how someone with a waist measurement of 37.5 inches is a size 12...

People have different builds. Some people's waists are naturally wider than others. It doesn't always mean you have excess fat there.

I'm really confused by your measurements OP. I'm 5ft 8 too, still losing a bit of baby weight I'm 12st 2 which is an overweight BMI (just) have about 5 lbs to get to a healthy BMI but my waist is 30.5". Pre baby it was 27. I'm a size 14 at the moment (or a 13 if they existed)

Are you sure yours is 37" or did I misread?

Im the same, I look like a pot bellied pig

Im not saying you do OP, but my tummy is so big. My legs, arms and my everything else look fine. I wear shorts, I wear vests, but I hide my stomach in black tops, its not flabby just a pot belly.

Are you sure that is your waist OP?

Because Im a size 12 and my hips are only an inch bigger? And Im fairly large of hip/arse

When I was at my biggest, I wore size 14 jeans. Low waists hide a lot of sins, and if you don't wear fitted tops then your waist measurment isn't the key factor there either.

You're much more likely to have to go up a size in trousers if you have a small waist but big hips/arse.

Have you measured that correctly?

My bmi is 24, my waist is 28 inches

I just looked up my bodyshape, it says I am a rectangle.

Reminds me of Mr Maker - I am a shape

Hello, you appear to be me!
I’m 5’9, healthy bmi comfortably. I’m fit, cycle everywhere, row, do yoga. Easily do ten miles on the bikes on hill with a double trailer as boggy group regularly. Resting pulse v low.

...but....my waist is 36.5, more if bloated. It’s not a pot belly at all, just doesn’t go in at all, I’m a rectangle.

To explain to those wondering about trousers. I have a 36.5 waist, hips are about the same. Bum is small. So not big on the trousers as they sit under my belly button before the bit that should go in. Dresses are harder. I’m totally straight up my thoughts, hips and waist. Don’t need to undo trousers to take them on or off

My posture is shocking though.

An awful lot of minimising of the risks going on here and people saying they are a rectangle etc.

You can still be a rectangle rather than an hourglass- I am ( small boobs, small hips) - but if your waist is as big as the OP's or close to that, you need to lose it. It's a no brainer.

British Heart Foundation here...

www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/measuring-your-waist#:~:text=A%20larger%20waist%20usually%20also,coronary%20heart%20disease%20and%20diabetes.

Yeah, to fat shame people.

Don't be ridiculous. Whatever your opinion of the NHS I don't think fat shaming is one of their objectives.

but if your waist is as big as the OP's or close to that, you need to lose it. It's a no brainer.

No, you don't. You can chose to live with it knowing some risks are higher, but that doesn't mean they are a certainty. But it's a choice adults can make.

Hmm. Are you allowed to pull your tummy in? If I measure ‘where I crease when I bend sideways’ I get 34 inches relaxed and 31 if I pull my muscles in. This is straight after dinner when I do tend to look like I’m a few months pregnant!

An awful lot of minimising of the risks going on here and people saying they are a rectangle etc.

Sadly I agree. And pp had a point about GPs brushing it off often. It's really crap. Everyone in my family with big belly while ok elsewhere had some health issues ranging from diabetes 1 to heart failure. Or both🙄