Page 12 | To think I’m not obese at these measurements?

Lis1992 · 2023-01-02T00:24:11+00:00

I think according to BMI I could possibly be in obese category. I know BMI isn’t always a perfect measure though. I’m 5’4 and around 12.5 stone. Would you call this obese or overweight? I know I need to lose weight but it is a struggle

Supernormative · 03/01/2023 12:59

SlipperSchlepper · 03/01/2023 11:35

There's an app I have on my phone called 'My Model' (I'll post a pic below) that allows you to create a model that looks like yourself including your body shape and exact weight and then you can put in your target weight to give you a bit of an idea on what you would look like.

I've edited mine to show what I would be at the OP's current weight (I was previously almost a stone heavier than she was when I started) and my target weight (which is actually my current weight) to show the difference. I'm also 5'4 which is the same as OP.

It's actually a decent app for some visual motivation. I think I paid £2 for it years ago.

I've just downloaded this. Thanks! It's great inspiration.

YourApplePie · 03/01/2023 13:06

5128gap · 03/01/2023 11:49

Its a significant piece of information regarding the OPs health and her livelihood of retaining her wellness into the future.
I think we can, and should, acknowledge that while being medically obese doesn't necessarily mean a person has an unattractive appearance, it is a negative health marker.
It's possible to be body positive in an appearance sense, without denying that obesity brings health risks. Recognition of that risk and desire to achieve a healthy weight is a long way from the 90s trope of under eating to achieve impossibly slim bodies for fashion purposes.

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That’s exactly it. It’s a single piece of information. It means nothing without context. And I thought that we were finally realising that there’s no real finite definition of healthy.

Isahlo · 03/01/2023 13:11

I’m a stone lighter than you at the same height and consider myself to be very overweight and close to obese yes. So 12.5 would definitely be obese IMO. Unless you’re pure muscle?

Imdeafnotdumb · 03/01/2023 16:24

It won't work for my phone. Could you do mine if possible x

nomorecheeseforme · 03/01/2023 16:35

@YourApplePie unless she's a body builder or pregnant, it's a pretty significant price of information. It's not the whole picture, granted. But to dismiss it as you are is part of the problem with us a nation being in denial about obesity. The OP is two stone over the maximum healthy weight for her height. That's a LOT. I admire the OP as she's accepted this. But clearly not everyone can.

hellosunshineagainxxx · 03/01/2023 16:41

Just to counter some of the other answers. At 5'4, 12.5 stone I was a size 10/12 with a 28 inch waist. I was in the gym 4-5x a week.

I'm now 15 stone and a size 16 so definitely obese but although bmi said I was at 12.5 I wasn't!

Kanaloa · 03/01/2023 16:54

Ilovemycar77 · 03/01/2023 09:21

I am 5ft 4in and 12stone.
I do however run 6k every single day and completed 3 half marathons last year.
I do yoga daily and an aerobics class and weights twice a week also.
This is in addition to walking my dogs for 4K every day.
I am still considered over weight/obese. I do not touch processed food, sugar. So what to do??
I am not stressing any longer about it. I am 45, have had 4 children and couldn’t be any fitter/eat better or any happier.
we aren’t all super models or even meant to be, we are who we are.

But I mean, the things you’ve mentioned aren’t relevant? Overweight/obese doesn’t mean ‘can’t exercise or live an active life, just lies in bed eating fried chicken 24/7.’ It means you weigh too much - it has nothing to do with your ability to walk your dogs or go running.

And if you’re happy with it, you’re happy with it. But I think you’re conflating two unrelated concepts.

ReneBumsWombats · 03/01/2023 17:01

hellosunshineagainxxx · 03/01/2023 16:41

Just to counter some of the other answers. At 5'4, 12.5 stone I was a size 10/12 with a 28 inch waist. I was in the gym 4-5x a week.

I'm now 15 stone and a size 16 so definitely obese but although bmi said I was at 12.5 I wasn't!

In what way were you not?

uncomfortablydumb53 · 03/01/2023 17:34

Everyone's Fat distribution is different so you may not feel obese, but I'm afraid you are

YourApplePie · 03/01/2023 17:36

nomorecheeseforme · 03/01/2023 16:35

@YourApplePie unless she's a body builder or pregnant, it's a pretty significant price of information. It's not the whole picture, granted. But to dismiss it as you are is part of the problem with us a nation being in denial about obesity. The OP is two stone over the maximum healthy weight for her height. That's a LOT. I admire the OP as she's accepted this. But clearly not everyone can.

The maximum healthy weight for her height according to a scale that was developed nearly 200 years ago (and not by a doctor). I’d wager that what we view as a healthy human has changed a fair bit…

thermostate · 03/01/2023 17:38

The maximum healthy weight for her height according to a scale that was developed nearly 200 years ago (and not by a doctor). I’d wager that what we view as a healthy human has changed a fair bit…

We haven't evolved that much in 200 years, barely at all in fact.

SlipperSchlepper · 03/01/2023 17:50

thermostate · 03/01/2023 17:38

The maximum healthy weight for her height according to a scale that was developed nearly 200 years ago (and not by a doctor). I’d wager that what we view as a healthy human has changed a fair bit…

We haven't evolved that much in 200 years, barely at all in fact.

The only thing that has drastically evolved is our food. And not for the better! It's all processed crap now and our bodies are paying for it

Crazycrazylady · 03/01/2023 18:20

I think you'd definitely be classed as obese at those measurements op, ( unless of course you're solid muscle)

FlorenceAndTheVendingMachine · 03/01/2023 21:42

ReneBumsWombats · 03/01/2023 17:01

In what way were you not?

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Well, a 28" waste is on the small side. Normally indicates lowish levels of abdominal fat.

3luckystars · 03/01/2023 21:48

Maybe she was 6’4’’

I can’t think how she could be 12.5 stone and have a 28 inch waist otherwise. Unless she has 6 legs or something.

RethinkingLife · 03/01/2023 21:49

Well, a 28" waste is on the small side. Normally indicates lowish levels of abdominal fat.

I was metabolically morbidly obese with a waist measurement of <26 inches and at a BMI of <22. Body composition indicated that my body fat level was >40%.

journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0033308

I had a waist of approx. 21.5inches and a BMI on the threshold of underweight at a satisfactory body fat level of @ 20%.

ReneBumsWombats · 03/01/2023 21:56

FlorenceAndTheVendingMachine · 03/01/2023 21:42

Well, a 28" waste is on the small side. Normally indicates lowish levels of abdominal fat.

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But if your BMI is 30 or more, you're obese. That is literally what it means. And unless you are exceptionally muscular (and it's true that some people are), that additional weight will be fat.

A pear shaped or hourglass woman could easily be obese with a relatively small waist. She will be carrying the fat elsewhere, which is healthier than on her stomach, but it doesn't mean she isn't obese or wouldn't benefit from losing weight.

FlorenceAndTheVendingMachine · 03/01/2023 21:56

I was metabolically morbidly obese with a waist measurement of <26 inches and at a BMI of 40%.

Christ, how tight was your belt done up? 😂

FlorenceAndTheVendingMachine · 03/01/2023 22:01

Seriously, though, having a slim waist but being 40% bf sounds more like a feature of your natural build as you'd probs not be at 40% body fat if you were training 5x a week like the previous poster.

I'm into powerlifting and know quite a few women with slim waists who weigh quite a lot on account of muscle mass. If you do lots of squats/deadkifts etc your glutes/hamstrings/quads etc will be much bigger than somebody who doesn't train or just does cardio.

FlorenceAndTheVendingMachine · 03/01/2023 22:03

In the pic on the right she'd look much slimmer when clothed but is actually heavier.

To think I’m not obese at these measurements?

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 03/01/2023 22:07

I was shocked to find I was obese at 13st and 5'5 as I didn't think I looked that bad but sadly I do

RethinkingLife · 03/01/2023 22:34

FlorenceAndTheVendingMachine · 03/01/2023 21:56

I was metabolically morbidly obese with a waist measurement of <26 inches and at a BMI of 40%.

Christ, how tight was your belt done up? 😂

You've misquoted me. My BMI was <22 and my body fat level was >40% at a waist of <26inches.

I was engaged in high levels of physical activity for a minimum of 6 days a week, including weight training sessions.

The clinical paper that I linked above explains a lot about BMI and body composition and how women in particular can be affected by the difference between judging obesity by BMI (normal) rather than a metabolic estimate derived from the body composition and body fat level.

Donkeyotey · 03/01/2023 23:48

I’m 5’10” and weigh 9 stone and think I look about right. So, yes - given you are 3.5 stone heavier than me and half a foot shorter, I think you are much heavier than what is healthy.

FlorenceAndTheVendingMachine · 03/01/2023 23:55

You've misquoted me.

For some reason that sentence wouldn't copy and paste properly. I think it's the > symbols which are an italicise command on here.

I was engaged in high levels of physical activity for a minimum of 6 days a week, including weight training sessions.

No offence, but if you're training hard 6x a week yet remaining at >40% bodyfat then something is very wrong. Either metabolically or with your diet.