To wish it was seen as the most beautiful thing ever to be super overweight

[weeducky]

Okay I know I am being because health but I am sat here really bloody hungry because I need to lose weight and I've had my morning 300 cals and it's just miserable. Heroin chic thin was in and I feel like if a BMI of 26/27/28 was seen as the pinnacle of beauty life would be lovely and I could eat what I wanted. Eating delicious food is such a source of joy and life would just be so much better if it was without guilt.

Don't worry, I know this isn't sensible realistically (even though we're potentially going that way) just dreaming because I really really want something delicious and filling for my lunch and I can't have it.

I agree that composition and fat distribution is really important and not talked about enough in relation to health. I have a few women in my family with slim, even skinny limbs and a really big tummy which can’t be good for their heart health. But their BMI isn’t so high actually as the limbs aren’t heavy and balance it out. This is why we have to take BMI with a huge pinch of salt and just a starting point perhaps as this shape is more common in those with poor diets and those who drink too much (almost like a beer belly) in my family at least. But I know some women just have an apple shape too regardless of what they eat or drink.

The post you made originally said slim though not underweight?

Im not sure what you mean, as this is the only post Ive made on this topic... I think you have me confused with another poster.

What do you mean by severely underweight? I think there are plenty of underweight people who are not in hospital fighting for their lives.

You might not know whether they are or not.
Someone with a BMI of under 18 is at risk for heart failure, kidney failure, intestinal issues...
Someone with a BMI of 15 or so will definitely have been in hospital with any of the above problems.
In men, a BMI of 13 is fatal.

Its also harder to be underweight than it is to be overweight.
You have to basically starve yourself to be underweight. Think anorexia. Or illness. With starvation comes lack of needed nutrients, vital for the good function of the body.

People with anorexia have strokes at an early age, heart attacks, kidney failure...

I have a relative who has been a life long anorexic, who has been in hospital, near death, several times, and is now permanently on dialysis, as her kidneys have failed completely. This is common in people with anorexia

18 to 19 is also underweight. It was changed after the war so rationing didn't look so bad. Ideal us 20 to 25 depending on body shape etc.

If your periods stop for 3 months then you are severely underweight for your body even if your bmi is over 18.

For me 23 bmi looks good. My face looks too gaunt any slimmer and my proportions make me look slimmer. I'm 27 bmi at the moment and am trying to lose weight but don't look fat. I guess everyone carries weight differently though.

For me it's about how well my body works and that's when it's fit and toned

@shivawn

But for her to be a healthy weight would take very little weight loss and would not change how she looks

She doesn't need to have a bmi of 22 to be a healthy weight

24.5 would do it.

Yes totally. I got really into fitness and dieting in my twenties, was super lean, ribs showing and full six pack but with a BMI of 21. My periods stopped for 2 or 3 months in a row.

I look like a Rubens lady. If only I lived in 17th century Flanders.

Well done! 👏

A BMI of 26 27 28 isn't 'super overweight' though. People with that BMI only need to lose about 5 percent of their body weight to be in the ideal health range.

This may be true, but according to the Bupa BMI calculator (NHS one is unavailable) my BMI is 15.2. I don't have an eating disorder, nor have I ever had one, nor do I look gaunt, emaciated, etc. I don't starve myself or even particularly think about what I eat, although I'm not much of a snacker. I just have a fast metabolism and a naturally narrow frame / light build.

I have never had heart failure, kidney failure or intestinal issues and certainly have never been hospitalised for any weight related illness.

So it's not so simple as to say, if your BMI is under X, you will be starving yourself and unhealthy.

"Diet culture has done nothing good for any of us"

It's been fine for me, thanks.

I find this really hard to believe. I am 5”8” and for me to have a bmi of 15 I’d have to weigh 7 stone. I think I would die before I could starve myself enough to reach 7 stone! I think I weighed that at about 8 years old and I’ve always had a slimmish body.

What is your height/weight if you don’t mind me asking?

I'm 5 8 and 11 stone with a bmi of 23. When younger like under age 25 I was only 8 stone easily or less. Now I'd struggle to get much below 11. And I'm still quite slim, size 12 not 8 to 10 really.

With a bmi of 25.5 you'll be able to look good easily, if you dress for your shape. I don't get the issue here tbh.

@Jourdain11

You absolutely are unhealthy

You're severely under weight. I'm surprised you're able to function.

Are you sure you've calculated it correctly?

Yeah, absolutely sure. For PP who asked, my height is slightly less than yours and I weight just under 7 stone. I used to weigh more (around 7 stone 6 at a guess) but I was ill (not weight-related) a few years ago and lost a lot of weight at that point. When I recovered I did regain weight, but it naturally seemed to stick at around 7 stone. I tried supplenting with meal replacement drinks between meals and extra snacks and would put on a bit, but as soon as I stopped bothering, my weight would reset to around 7 stone. My weight was always low anyway, and I do think I genuinely have a narrow or light-boned frame because I don't look particularly bony or anything.

@Jourdain11

Have you seen your gp about being referred to a dietitian?

As pp said there real, severe, health risks from being severely under weight

I've certainly spoken to my GP about it, but they didn't think a dietician referral would be necessary (nor do I) since I'm in good health.

Can you afford to join ZOE? They collect data from you (that they use for research) and then take you through several weeks of coaching in which you eat the 'ZOE' way, via scores designed against their analysis of your blood sugar sensitivity, your sensitivity to fat and your gut biome. After the analysis period, you eat well - I never felt hungry - with guidance about meals and snacks. It's a high fibre, high veg way of eating with lots of nuts, beans and pulses, but I've enjoyed it, I feel loads better, and though I didn't have a real problem with weight, I have stabilised around what I wanted to weight. I'd really recommend it. You can check it out here ZOE—Understand how food affects your body (joinzoe.com) and no, I don't get any rewards for you joining. It's been good for me - it could well work for you. Good luck!

When you say youre in good health, is that because you feel fine or have tests been done, regarding your potassium levels, kidney function, etc?