To think I’m not obese at these measurements?

[Lis1992]

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

1.5/2 stone can be the difference between the top of healthy weight and obese so it makes sense if you’re saying you’re just in the obese category. Does it matter what it’s defined as? You’re carrying more weight than is healthy. Lose weight and you’ll feel better. Or don’t.

Are you Egyptian? I only ask as you're clearly in denial. You can change things if you want to though.

It’s not about the way you look, it’s about your health. If BMI is 30 then you are considered obese. Don’t see this label as a put down to the way you look, just use it as a guide to making a healthy life style (if you choose to do so).

Yep. I’m the same height and weight as you and I’d describe myself as huge. I worry about my health so much, it really is a bigger danger than a lot of people seem to realise.

The majority of people in the UK are overweight or obese so yes what you are used to seeing is obesity 🤷‍♀️

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity_in_the_United_Kingdom

I struggle with this, people with a healthly BMI look skinny as hell to me.

I’m 6ft and 12st 5lbs - BMI is 23.4 - so even I’m at the higher end of the healthy bracket with my height. I exercise a lot and lift heavy weights as well, so do have quite a lot of lean muscle mass. My metabolic age is 29, but I’m actually 36.

You are obese.

I think this is the issue these days.

In 2023 you probably don’t think you are obese because we think of it as being someone who is huge. The harsh reality is that 30 years ago someone your size would have stood out and been obviously obese. These days we are surrounded by people who are overweight and obese and so it has become normalised.

Find some photos from the 80s and then compare to now. We have become a nation of overweight people and the long term health implications don’t bare thinking about.

I don’t know your age op but when I was young what was seen as large was much smaller than today. It’s very true what @Witsendwilly has written about size and just how huge people are these days. I think the UK is the fattest nation in Europe and you are well on your way to being at risk of type 2 diabetes. I think body the positive campaign on weight was a mistake that will prematurely kill many people.

I think this is the issue these days.

In 2023 you probably don’t think you are obese because we think of it as being someone who is huge. The harsh reality is that 30 years ago someone your size would have stood out and been obviously obese. These days we are surrounded by people who are overweight and obese and so it has become normalised.

Find some photos from the 80s and then compare to now. We have become a nation of overweight people and the long term health implications don’t bare thinking about.

This is true. We were watching ‘three mothers’ on Prime and a policeman twenty years ago was describing a woman as obese. So obese she couldn’t walk properly etc and the next moment she was being interviewed and she was a perfectly ordinary looking woman by today’s standards. It was quite confronting.

You are in denial. Take a look at some images on Google of women if you type in 10 stone and 5 4. Then take a photo of yourself. You've got used to seeing yourself but if you were surrounded by healthy weight women you'd stand out as obese by those measurements.

Obese. You say you need you lose weight so what difference does the word make?

I think technically you would be considered obese, or at the very high end of the overweight category.

You must read on a daily basis about the problems with the NHS.
Being overweight or obese will increase your risk of all sorts of illnesses that might mean you need hospital care.
Do you really want to take your chance with the NHS as it is?
I think we all need to take more responsibility for our health as in future there may not be any NHS to help us.

I’m a similar height to you and at 12.5 stone I am a size 12/14. I know what you mean as you don’t necessarily feel that big but obesity is clinical and at that weight you are 2st overweight.

I am 5"7 and 11 stone. I am trying to lose weight because all the excess weight is around my stomach, even though my BMI is under 25. You are certainly overweight at that weight.

I'm 5ft 2 and was obese at 11 stone, similarly to you I was shocked, wearing a size 12 and certainly didn't feel obese. I would have agreed to a little overweight but certainly not obese.

Try not to focus on the word, if you can lose weight slowly you will see health benefits and realise what a difference it makes.

Don't forget how much fat you're carrying that you can't see - you'll have a lot around your organs which can be a silent killer, especially when society views the word obese as 'someone on My 600lb Life who needs help showering' and overweight as 'a bit chubby'.

Doesn't really matter if you are overweight or obese no? I think most people can tell if they need to lose weight.

Agree with others that is categorised as obese.
Just out of interest why is the name for your weight important?

Thing is, people these days are a lot fatter than they used to be.

I’m obese. No question about it. My BMI is around 36 - 37. (And yes, I do know I need to do something about it.)

But, I do the school run, I go out and about doing day to day things in my local community, and I don’t stand out for my size. I see plenty of people my size and larger out and about on a daily basis.

If I was judging my levels of obesity based on the people around me then it’d be quite easy for me to think my weight’s not all that bad because most of the people I see are also overweight or obese.

Are you sure you don't look or feel fat? I'm the same height but a stone heavier than you. I used to be a pear but recent weight gain has all been around my middle, the most dangerous place.
My legs rub together down my thighs and again at my knees to the extent that I don't wear some trousers due to the noise they make when I walk. I can easily grab handfuls of fat around my waist & hips. My bum sags behind me. I do some weights so I expect I do have some defined muscles but you wouldn't know it as they are all hidden by fat. I can't even see a shadow of my ribs.
I know we all carry weight differently but in what way is your body different?

I think this is the issue these days.

In 2023 you probably don’t think you are obese because we think of it as being someone who is huge. The harsh reality is that 30 years ago someone your size would have stood out and been obviously obese. These days we are surrounded by people who are overweight and obese and so it has become normalised.

Another vote for the above bring the problem.

I’m in my 50s and was looking at old school photos recently. We were all very slim apart from one girl who was considered “fat”, she would barely register as being overweight in a school or class photo of children now. DH says all but one or two the kids at his inner city sink school were skinny. A large proportion of the children attending schools serving the same catchment area now are visibly overweight.

Look at old photos of people at the seaside and compare them to now. We have become very habituated to seeing ourselves and others overweight. It has huge implications for our health in old age.

When we are shown pictures of obese people. They tend to be morbidly obese which really skews the image on whats obese. There is actually quite a small difference between overweight and obese.

The other issue is that if you are of a certain ethnicity even being slightly overweight makes you prone to illness. I was prediabetic 2 yrs ago at under 11 stone and 5"7 with a waist of 29. :( It's not fair. But it is what it is.