AIBU to tell you that BMI doesn't apply to everyone!

[Randomuser456]

Foreword I know it's a blunt tool, etc, etc ,etc... and I DO exercise more than the average person (don't really ift heavy) but I've always thought my clothes size doesn't match my weight.

Anywho according to the Navy Body Fat formula I'm around 27-28%

A BMI extrapolation would put me at 38%. By reversing that calculation someone with my BF% is around 15kg lighter than my current weight.

Anyway just a public service announcement :)

but why would you need to stave yourself at all? It’s not unusual. I’m genuinely flummoxed at this idea the only way you’ll be under 10
stone is as an anorexic teen as if that’s normal

I’ve just asked 5 friends who are round 😂
4 were under 10 stone until their 30s,
1 still is.
2 went past 10 stone after having babies/ Covid and wfh and can’t lose it

5ft 8, x2 5ft 6 and x1 5ft5.

they don’t get it either.

Yeah, I’m 5’6” and am below ten stone whilst eating loads. Ten stone sounds quite heavy to me. And I’m big boned / broad 🙄

Exactly! I’m not saying it’s impossible for some women but the idea that it’s commonplace and obvious is 🤯

What’s it got to do with people seeing that they’re fat? I’m sure most people are well aware of their size and shape - why do you think there is any absence of that? Have you missed the last few decades of diet culture and fat shaming? It’s hard to avoid if your body looks or feels different to the expected norm.
But even if people can’t “see that they’re fat” why would an arbitrary BMI number be any more helpful than weight or clothes size?
It’s not BMI or nothing, there are many other indicators of health - not that you are concerned with that, it seems you are only focused on people looking fat (and being told it) 🙄

How could a BMi of 30 put you underweight “on the BMI scale”?! A BMI of 30 is obese.

" I’m sure most people are well aware of their size and shape - why do you think there is any absence of that? "

Well, obviously not. Otherwise there wouldn't be a need to measure the BMI.
As for absence of it, well all the people on here being surprised their BMI is higher. I see it in real life sometimes too.

"But even if people can’t “see that they’re fat” why would an arbitrary BMI number be any more helpful than weight or clothes size?"

Clothes size is how 'big' you are i.e. height plays a part too. A very short person can be overweight as a 12 and a tall person can be healthy weight as a 16. Clothes sizes don't mean anything without height. Same goes for weight.

"It’s not BMI or nothing, there are many other indicators of health "

Yes, of course and we all get things like blood pressure measured often, but being overweight is a health risk so how would you quantify that if not with BMI?

" it seems you are only focused on people looking fat (and being told it)"

What??

That programme didn't really look into the other methods, like the navy one.

I’m 5 foot 9 and 10 stone now in my late 30’s. I’ve been 9 stone when I was in my 20’s . I’m slim but I’m no way near Ill. Of course an adult woman can weigh less than 10 stone!

I’m 5’6.5” and I’m under 8 stone (and not a child) and I have the same measurements as the woman who said she was 10 stone! Weight is so crazy it can’t really tell you the whole story.

Bully for you. You're an outlier

Why do you think that?

There is no need to measure BMI.

A size 10 /bmi of 21 is not an outlier .

But it can be normal if you’re tall or have big boobs or large frame
Posting stuff that makes anyone over 10 stone sound like an elephant is really fucking unhelpful to anyone especially if someone with disordered eating is reading this

at my height I’m perfectly in the BMI range up to about 12st 10, I have size 8 feet and big hands, 10 stone is not achievable for me and I’ve weighed more than that since I was about 12 years old

. You’re taking my post completely out of context. It was not about 10 stone women in general.

It was about 10 stone women who buy size 6 clothes too worried to lose anymore weight because they say they would then be too small to fit into the smallest clothes British shops sell.

absolutely no relation to what you’ve posted

87kg
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNd8YpdXH/

95kg
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNd8YSXw3/

90kg (and she looks insane)
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNd8YyH9q/

You said you’re flummoxed at the only way someone would be under 10 stone as an anorexic teen

Of course I am. Aren’t you? It’s not unusual to be under 10 stone

that person meant for themselves I think
nowadays with a lot of people weight training especially younger women I imagine them to be heavier

I wouldn’t be puzzled at someone shorter and petite frame being under 10 stone and I wouldn’t be puzzled at someone 5ft 11 and large frame not having been 10 stone since a teen
I was heavier than 10 stone when I was 12

Nope 3 posters in row said it wasn’t possible to be 5ft7-8 and under 10 stone. That the only way to do that would be to be an anorexic teen.

there really isn’t anything to argue about, they said it’s not possible and of course, it’s very possible

I am 5’8” and well under 10 stone. Been around 9 stone all my adult life.
I am tall and lean with good muscle tone.
I am in a running club and there are plenty of women with similar builds. It’s not unusual.

So why do people seem to think it's impossible to be a size 8 at 10st and 5ft2?

I'm going to have to stop reading this thread. I'll just say the replies have made me realise that half the reason for our epidemic of eating disorders (and, to a lesser extent, exercise disorders) is a total inability to understand basic maths, percentages and averages. It's shocked me more than all the unusual body compositions claimed seen here!

I'm a size 8 in trousers (occasionally 10 but often 8) and I'm over 10st at 5'2). I asked MNHQ to change my name so I could leave my (revealing!) Photo up.

People are different builds. I had a pair of size 8 jeans on last night that are actually a bit large on me.

Having said that, I was 2 st lighter 20 years ago and also a size 8 then. Vanity sizing does play a part.

You’re not comparing like with like. My example is nothing to do with dress sizes, it’s height and weight.
The equivalent is me saying you can’t be 5ft2 and 10 stone. Of course you can.