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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask your bmi?

175 replies

abitcheekyreally · 06/02/2023 11:17

I know this is a bit of a cheek, but I'm curious to know, ok maybe to see where I fall to in the range of answers.
Are people generally on the lower side, higher side, in the middle and are you happy, trying to lose, trying to gain, counting calories or couldn't care less?

OP posts:
IDontWantToBeAPie · 06/02/2023 13:32

24.6

I'm a size 10 but am only .4 off being overweight somehow. So guess I'm trying to lose.

IDontWantToBeAPie · 06/02/2023 13:32

Sazzling · 06/02/2023 11:32

I don't know and I don't want to know. It's pretty high though as I can't seem to stop eating.

How do I stop? Like actually, literally, how? I can read all the lovely internet articles I like, but soon enough the mind tricks wear off and I'm eating again - and with vigour as though to make up for all the abstinence.

Writing this has made me pause and realise how f'ing sad and broken I am about it all.

Therapy. Therapy is how you find out why you're compulsively eating and work to stop. It's very very hard.

DuplicateUserName · 06/02/2023 13:35

22.1 and yes I'm happy with it, especially considering I'm peri-menopausal with a very underactive thyroid.

Fillystine · 06/02/2023 13:38

19.4 - I have always been slim, fit and very active - I am a regular gym-goer and runner - don't smoke, don't drink a great deal and am very careful with regards to saturated fats, sugar and refined carbs. I still had a heart attack a few weeks ago, at 47! The GP risk matrix puts me in the bottom 1% of people likely to have a heart attack. As far as I am concerned (I realise my opinion is incredibly skewed thanks to personal circumstances), BMI means pretty much nothing!

Seasonofthewitch83 · 06/02/2023 13:38

Wanderingowl · 06/02/2023 13:30

It's actually an extremely good metric for overall health risk and the long-term endurance of your joints. The way in which it is not good is that it is far too broad as it has to account for all body shapes. Most people do not have 7 BMI points over which they remain at their healthiest weight, ie 19-25. I'm clearly underweight at 20, clearly overweight at 24. That's even with being very muscular. Without my muscle I'd be healthiest at 21. 22.5 is my current ideal. Other people are at their best in the 18-20 region, others at 23-25.

BMI is a very good starting point to get an idea if you are at a healthy weight. You can then add in factors like your exercise routine, diet and strength. But if you start adding in things like body shape, ie large breasts, you are distorting that, as that's already counted in. I went quite a long time, thinking my large breast size meant I wasn't over-weight when my BMI was 26, and that was nothing but me deluding myself.

Good physical health is pretty much the most accurate indicator of a long, healthy life. Yes you can get serious illnesses at any age, but the risk is higher the less physically healthy you are. Personally, I aim to not only make it well past 100, but I aim to be dancing right up until the very end. That requires maintaining my joints, muscles and bones as well as possible. I can't guarantee the long healthy old age I want as a lot is out of my hands. However, I can guarantee that it won't happen, because if I don't actively aim for it, it can't. So I'll live my life with that goal in mind. The best part is though, as someone who has been obese and someone who is now athletically fit and able to do all sorts of cool shit most people can't. Life is a whole fucktonne better this way. So it's not even a case of torturing myself to increase the likelihood of being a capable centenarian, it's a case of live an awesome active life now, with the bonus of a realistic possibility of being a capable centenarian.

Show quote history

But it isnt.

It wasn't even designed to be a measure of health.

It was also designed for only white european male body types, therefore if you are outside of this category, it will not apply to you.

Its an EXTREMELY blunt tool at best and not even an indication of overall health.

Slowsteps · 06/02/2023 13:38

25, after a lifetime of being 21. Menopausal and frustrated with the weight gain. Definitely trying to lose.

SlashBeef · 06/02/2023 13:47

RipWheelersBeard · 06/02/2023 13:30

@SlashBeef that is so good! Do you mind me asking how you've done it?

Thank you! I got into therapy for my binge eating disorder so with that under control and the gym 3 times a week I'm starting to just eat properly and not like, 4 pain au chocolat and a whole packet of biscuits as a morning snack 🙈
In hindsight its very easy to see how I put on so much weight!

MarceyMc · 06/02/2023 13:47

26.3, down from 32 this time last year - have another 8lbs to lose to get to 25 but would like another 10lbs (18lbs) in total - think I'd be around 23 if/when I get there

swipe · 06/02/2023 13:47

Couldn't agree more @Seasonofthewitch83

luckylavender · 06/02/2023 13:50

26, down from 33 in 18 months. Would like to drop another stone. Happy

Wobblymama01 · 06/02/2023 13:53

BMI 39.

I weigh over 14 stone I weigh more then my husband 😱

My consultant has literally said my health is at risk due to my weight ☹️

Mammyloveswine · 06/02/2023 13:56

Mine is currently around 30, far too high!

But I've lost a stone since the start of the year and determined ti get the rest of the weight off.

LynneBenfield · 06/02/2023 13:56

There are adjusted versions for ethnicities who fall outside of the ‘standard’ BMI ranges, @Seasonofthewitch83, which is why the NHS online calculator asks for ethnic group. However, generally it is a good rule of thumb.

Rebel2023 · 06/02/2023 13:59
  1. I'm 5ft 10 and a size 16
Seasonofthewitch83 · 06/02/2023 14:00

LynneBenfield · 06/02/2023 13:56

There are adjusted versions for ethnicities who fall outside of the ‘standard’ BMI ranges, @Seasonofthewitch83, which is why the NHS online calculator asks for ethnic group. However, generally it is a good rule of thumb.

Accept it doesnt - I just changed my ethnicity and it still gave me exactly the same data.

Also gives the same reading if I change my fitness level. The only thing it changed for that was how many calories I needed to get down to this magical number that apparently is best for everyone.

LondonJax · 06/02/2023 14:02

26.6 down from 28.8 in November last year. I'm on a low(ish) carb diet because of high blood pressure and pre diabetes. The weight went on when I hit menopause but it's coming off steadily thank goodness. I'm feeling a lot better now and my high blood pressure is now normal. I'm waiting to hear about the pre diabetes.

avocadotofu · 06/02/2023 14:06

Mine is 21.6, I'm about 7 pounds heavy then I'd like to be so that feels quite big to me.

Rebel2023 · 06/02/2023 14:08

avocadotofu · 06/02/2023 14:06

Mine is 21.6, I'm about 7 pounds heavy then I'd like to be so that feels quite big to me.

I can't even imagine that. I'm a big boned 5ft 10 and I can put on or lose a stone without noticing! It takes me 2-3 stone to drop a dress size

Singinghollybob · 06/02/2023 14:08

19.5 I'm happy with my weight and figure.

SovietKitsch · 06/02/2023 14:09

23.5 and I need to lost about a stone. I don’t normally need to watch what I eat really, but I usually run about 20-30 miles a week which keeps the weight off and I’ve been injured so it’s all crept on.

trying to get back on the exercise wagon without flaring up my knee!

Applesandcarrots · 06/02/2023 14:10

Seasonofthewitch83 · 06/02/2023 14:00

Accept it doesnt - I just changed my ethnicity and it still gave me exactly the same data.

Also gives the same reading if I change my fitness level. The only thing it changed for that was how many calories I needed to get down to this magical number that apparently is best for everyone.

Show quote history

It changes the text and gives you info if you are more at risk due to ethnicity factor.
Risks for many other than white start in lower bmi.

FinallyHere · 06/02/2023 14:11

26.5, down from 39 this time last year

Low carb bootcamp has been transformative for me. I eat good quality, unprocessed food with plenty of fat to keep me feeling satisfied and loads of veg to keep me feeling regular.

Anyone feeling low, come over and join the very warm, friendly and knowledgable lovely people in the low carb boot camp threads.

Everanewbie · 06/02/2023 14:11

BMI is a bit blunt, but its a good starting point. Your bullseye BMI might need tweaking either side but it isn't going to be 5-10 points off.

Whenever BMI is mentioned here there is always a poster saying about how they are muscular meaning that for them, 33 is ok. My understanding is that you need to be a like a full on body builder for that sort of thing to apply so I think there is a bit of Ostrich'ing going on to be honest.

Rebel2023 · 06/02/2023 14:12

Everanewbie · 06/02/2023 14:11

BMI is a bit blunt, but its a good starting point. Your bullseye BMI might need tweaking either side but it isn't going to be 5-10 points off.

Whenever BMI is mentioned here there is always a poster saying about how they are muscular meaning that for them, 33 is ok. My understanding is that you need to be a like a full on body builder for that sort of thing to apply so I think there is a bit of Ostrich'ing going on to be honest.

Oh I know I'm fat
I'm just also big, hands, feet, wrists, shoulders twice the width of my friends etc

TrashcanDarling · 06/02/2023 14:12

15.7 (Yes, I know this is unhealthy, working on it).