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.

@Griefmonster re-read my post slowly and in full, you’ll be less het up than the post you’ve imagined where you believe I’m justifying it or don’t acknowledge I would benefit from losing it.

If anyone sees that and doesn’t want to scroll back- I posted for those saying she was measuring incorrectly. I was demonstrating it was quite likely to be an accurate measurement and wasn’t unbelievable someone could be that shape. Lots of people were exclaiming before my post it just couldn’t be right.

@Roae thank you for pointing out I did misread your post. I thought you were the OP with a name change. I am sorry.

Apologies for my tone then, I thought you were being deliberately obtuse (and I’m sensitive about my belly!)

@Roae Comparing yourself to other people is not a good idea as more than 60% of people are overweight.

From your photo, I'd say just looking at it and not seeing a 3D version of you, that you could lose anything from 7lbs to a stone to get rid of the midriff bulge.

It's not about how 'fit' you are, (as in being able to cycle) because the fat you can see on the outside is often replicated on the inside, around your organs like liver , pancreas and heart.

Eventually, 'fitness' will change into a chronic health issue because of where the fat is stored.

The good news is you don't look overweight anywhere else, so maybe in 6 -8 weeks with dropping carbs and portion sizes, you could easily lose the the midriff ?

@JinglingHellsBells please see my previous post just above yours.

You have misread my post (if you read it).

I’m well aware of ‘could’, but I’m on a journey where I have already lost a fair bit... and that was not in anyway the point of my post. I wasn’t asking for opinions, but explaining to some on here the how.

(And it’s a bit ridiculous to point out I’m not overweight elsewhere, that’s the whole reason I posted. I do not have an overweight BMI... so I couldn’t actually have a large belly AND be overweight elsewhere... or I’d be overweight full stop.
I do yoga, cycle, fun, shred and do a lot of exercise and eat better than I ever have. Weight loss though isn’t instant is it?
The point is for some it’s the hardest place and some of us are not proportionate or pear shaped)

This motivated me to just measure. That photo from spring is 38... I’m actually down to 34.5 today.
That’s a lesson in perception on how it creeps up, it hadn’t occurred to me to remeasure as I’d been around that size for a long time, not losing belly went I’d lost elsewhere over the year.

I suppose if you think about it, lots of people have different body shapes so the BMI healthy range is meant to account for that. People who are large built (broad shoulders, large hands and feet etc) will be heavier when carrying the same amount of excess weight as people of a petite build. If you aren't broad then its probably best for health purposes to aim for the lower end of BMI. So BMI of 24-25 is really only healthy for those who are larger built.

Basically if you have a BMI of 24 ish and a waist size over half your height it would be better for your health to lose weight.

Anyone still concerned over the "big waist" issue? it's so frustrating, being told I'm at "health risk" when my BMI is under 22, I'm 5'7" and 137 (in US, not UK)----yet because of a waist that is 33 and hips that are 371/2, I'm at risk.

Yet, if my hips were say, 43, then the ratio would be acceptable, which makes no sense, as I'd actually be fatter.

Is this still an issue?

Look into building muscle.
Instead of losing weight perhaps?

As pps have said it's visceral fat that's the problem. It's difficult to shift.

Haven’t read the full thread but your waist to hip ratio is probably a better gauge alongside the BMI as it’s a general population measurement that doesn’t really account for people with more muscle mass.

Drat! Have just seen how old this thread is

I am 5'10" with a BMI of 26.3 and have 41" waist. All my perimenopause weight gain has gone straight around my middle - I look 6 months pregnant - how can I target this area specifically?

BMI of 24 here as well and waist is 31 sucked in and 33 out. I've been losing weight and have about a stone to go so hoping it will go under 30.

My hips are only 34 inches - but I have a 40 inch bust - awful being an inverted triangle.

@Batshitbeautycosmeticsltd

I love all this 'See your GP' on nearly every other thread and the NHS itself pushing this, yet again on nearly every other thread is how shit the GP service is in a lot of places now, not able to get any appointment, only by phone, fobbed off, no tests being done. Honestly, the NHS isn't very good at getting to the bottom of things like this often enough. It's usually just 'Well, lose weight' and signposting to NHS diet sites is what you'll get.

I was put on a AD that is legendary for weight gain. Never told anything about it. I found out about it myself and staved off the weight gain by literally stuffing myself with veg whenever I'm hungry (it's an appetite stimulus) and/or caning water or veggie soup/broth based soup. But otherwise, I'd be overweight. As it is I'm apple shaped.

'I found out about it myself'... as in by reading the patient information leaflet that comes with the medication you are prescribed to give you, the patient, the information you need about the medication you are taking? When you say 'never told anything about it' - do you mean you feel your GP should have read the leaflet to you?