Are some people really heavy or am I kidding myself?

[Ellessdee]

I know I'm a bit overweight. I'm a solid size 12. I weighed myself and did my BMI out of curiosity and it's telling me I'm obese. Is BMI wildly inaccurate or am I in denial re my weight? I used to weight train and do have quite a bit of muscle but also a layer of fat on top! Anyway, trying to pose weight, just wondering if I should be worried!

I am not sure dress size is an accurate measure as sizing varies so much from store to store and vanity sizing means that size 12 today is not the same as size 12 10-15 years ago.

I've had to go and check my bmi now. I don't actually know my weight, although it tends to be between 68 and 70kg or 10.8 and 11. If I can see my hip bones, I'm near 10.8.
I tried both weights and came out 22 or 22.8. Bang in the healthy range. That was the NHS one.

I agree.
Dress sizes are so variable.
I have in my wardrobe clothes ranging from size 8 to size 20, all of which fit me!

This is what people say when BMI tells them they''re overweight...ooh, its inaccurate for elite athletes and bodybuilder...yeah well guess what, you're neither, but you are way chonkier than you thought.

BMI is fairly blunt but its pretty accurate for the vast majority of people. If your BMi says you're obese, no way will losing a few pounds will make you skeletal, I don't care how small you think your frame is!

Have you done a height to waist ratio measurement?

Some people who have a normal BMI but have lots of fat deposited around the middle will come out with a poor H-W ratio and therefore at higher risk of certain health conditions. Those have a worse BMI but due to having a body composition with much more muscle mass are more likely to have a healthy H-W ratio.

Bloodyhell.. I'm size 18 & thought I was fairly normal.. :-0

I mean, what do you mean by normal? Because you are normal - lots of people are very overweight, which means it is normal. Unfortunately though, normal doesn’t mean a healthy weight. So you’re both normal (as in fit in with others) and quite overweight.

I have gained a bit of weight recently - I think if most of us who realise we’re overweight are honest with ourselves we don’t need to check BMI to know we need to lose a bit. But at least (I’ve been comforting myself with this) op has realised it before she is very very overweight and it’s much more of a challenge to lose. I think this is where people can fall - saying oh but I’m only a tiny bit overweight so it’s ok, it’s not like I’m obese etc.

How much do you actually weigh OP?

Telling people that BMI is useless and its not to be paid attention to at all, is very bad advice.

People will say BMI is useless, but it’s reasonable for the vast majority of people I’m afraid This is the truth

Using BMI for my height there is a 2 stone and 11 lb weight range for a normal weight. Whilst BMI may be a bit of blunt tool, it gives a good indication if weight is within the normal range for the majority of the population.

Height to waist ratio can also be used, but won’t tell you as to how under or overweight you are.

OP you are quite tall so I wouldn't think you'd be in the obese category at a size 12. So there could be some muscle at play here!

I'm in the camp (feels alone on MN) that thinks BMI is pretty damn starkly honest & mostly correct in what it suggests about whether a body is overweight or obese or too small.

I find MN obsession with clothes sizes meaning something useful, somewhere between bewildering & amusing. You said your height, so tell us your bust-waist-hips. But what really matters is how comfortable you are in your own body to do things you'd like to do. If anything about your size, stamina, strength or energy levels is interfering with your quality of life, then you might want to think about what you want to do to improve that.

I’m 5’9 and obese at size 16. At size 12 I’m normal weight according to BMI. I have very little muscle though

Nah, it's just my brother.

Agree, dress size is not accurate. A-they vary, b- when i put on weight I was adamant I was still x size. Yeah, I could "fit" it... But... I was size bigger frankly. Some clothes grows with you.

Bmi is one of the tools. Not a single one tool. Usually accurate

Using the NHS bmi calculator, to be obese at 5’9” the weight needs to be 14 stone and 7 lbs.
OP does that sound like you’ve typed it all in correctly?

I was briefly obese BMI after I had my son, I was 14.6 st and a large size 16 at 5ft 9. To be a size 12 I weigh 11st 6 ish

I’m amazed that someone would be a size 12 at that height and weight. I’m 5’9’’ and at 14 st 7lbs I’m a good size 16. I know people are different shapes but even so, that doesn’t sound like a 12.

BMI is certainly more accurate than clothes sizing, which are meaningless today.

most people are fat. Most people are in denial

Yes, same!

Have a google about racial differences OP. I think that as a Black woman you will find that you have more muscle mass than say a white woman of the same height and weight.

I'm intrigued by your comment about excess muscle putting a strain on the body. What is excess muscle? I mean, apart from muscle bulk that is disguring such as in crazy bodybuilder types. But can you have excess muscle as an average sporty person?

If you don’t think the BMI measurement is accurate, you could look in the mirror while naked and literally observe whether you are overweight or obese

I use this chart to keep an eye on the creeping blubber! It seems very realistic to me. I ignore BMI and think it's rubbish.

www.forumhealthcentre.nhs.uk/your-health/height-weight-chart

I am 67kg and 5.5 so at a healthy weight. I wear anything from a size 12 to 16 depending on what it is and where purchased, so I don't pay any heed to clothes sizes at all.

We just need to keep as near to a healthy weight as possible, walk or take other exercise as often as we can and enjoy life with a few nice treats now and then.

Ethnicity plays a part, if you’re black African you may have more muscle mass than the average while person of a similar build. You’d be better having your body fat percentage measured.

My BMI is 31, due to my ethnicity it ‘should’ be 23 or less with obese starting at 27, my body fat percentage is fine (about 13% at the moment), so while yes I’m heavy, I don’t need to lose body fat for health reasons.