Should I take BMI seriously

[NerdAmigo]

Just went for my wellwoman check and got weighted and measured. The Nurse didn't comment on my weight, but I worked out my BMI when I got back and was shocked it was 28, which is well in to overweight.

I exercise regularly and probably eat too much cake. I'm a size 14-16. I wouldlike to be thinner than I am but I have stayed the same size since my last baby without starving myself. Do you take notice of BMI? If not what else do you use to assess whether you are a healthy weight.

I find this a very interesting pictorial to show how BMI, especially in women, can be a little misleading. Or can add to body dysmorphia....

www.flickr.com/photos/77367764@N00/sets/72157602199008819/

perry no I am not agreeing with you partly because you seem a little blinkered and defensive, but also because I do think that BMI and waist size ( and weight itself) are useful measurements.

I take issue with dress sizes because there is a lot of vanity sizing in the clothes industry, that's one reason, but also because someone may need a larger hip size - or bust size- but nevertheless be healthy and slim elsewhere ( like my Mum.)

I do think that people have got used to looking at themselves or other women and seeing overweight-ness as being " normal size". If you look back to photos or TV in the 40s, 50, and 60s, people generally were much slimmer.

I am shocked when I read here of women who are saying they are 13.5 stone because that is more than many men- fit muscly men! It's 2.5 stones heavier than my dad ever was or my DH who is almost 6 foot.

Just because the " average" or mean size is 14-16 doesn't mean it's " right" or something to be complacent about.

I think you are making a huge issue out of the simple fact that the OP posted here perhaps in error when she ought to have posted on General Health. That doesn't mean though that we can't reply to her post.

I think it's pretty easy to see if you are carrying too much weight- stand naked in front of the mirror. Or measure you waist. Or work out your BMI.

Moving away from this thread now as it's making me feel pretty crap

I think what Notyummy says is spot on - if one measurement is worrying, you look at the others (waist/hip, BMI, weight, body fat etc). If they're all suggesting you're overweight, then perhaps it's time to think about it.

I, for instance, am reasonably heavy for my height, so my BMI is (while in the healthy range) higher than one might expect by looking at me. However, my waist is 28" and ratio is something like 0.78, and I know I am pretty fit and muscular and my body fat is something like 23%. So overall I know I am healthy.

Also, I look in the mirror and see a healthy person, and I know I can walk 2 miles in 35 minutes perfectly comfortably, so I must be healthy.

All of which is a very long winded way of saying look at the big picture an don't kid yourself one way or the other

Oh Northumberland don't be sad.

Pretty sure most people know if they're overweight or not by looking in the mirror/how their clothes fit etc etc - I hardly ever weigh myself to be honest as know I can get into a bad cycle whereby the number on the scales dictates my mood for the day which isn't terribly healthy for me.

And Regina - your post was pretty mean in my opinion. Not sure how much your dad weighs has to do with anything - for all we know he could be 5ft 2.

What I get from the pictures of various BMIs (thanks Heifer) is that most 'overweight' women look like me but actually have noticeable norks! How much extra does a DD add to your BMI rather than an A cup, i wonder?

I'm neither blinkered nor defensive..the opposite really. I've considered this from many angles.

I haven't said that we shouldn't reply to this post or said it's a hanging offence...that has come from you Regina. I was clear about my thoughts on the thread earlier, you continue to escalate them....

I think that we focus too much on ridiculous minutiae. A stone here or there doesn't make a massive difference to health. The difference between a 10/12 or a 12/14 or a 14/16 is really not a difference that affects health.
It affects our vanity. I am unconvinced that it has any other use. I do think that it can make us negatively obsessed about food and size.

What use does discussing previous generation's physical size serve? They were also physically shorter and as a result of post war rationing. Talking about the weight a person is in comparison to the weight of a man serves what purpose? Medium sized, a 14/16, is a perfectly ordinary, normal size.

What I always see when anything about weight or BMI or waist measurement crops up is lots of people trying to tell others off, that they are in some way lacking. I think that there are so many ways that women can beat themselves up over nonsense. These BMI calculations are just another example.

I can also feel a sense of crowing and humblebragging that is wrapped up in concern for someone else's health.
Sometimes it is much more open and people are brazen enough to judge others for their physical size when they know nothing about them. There is often a meanness wrapped up in any discussion about women's weight that is just unnecessary.

So I repeat I think that the OP shouldn't worry about her BMI. She's fine. A 14/16 is fine.

northumberlandlass

don't feel sad. You sound perfectly normal. Perfectly perfectly normal

Perry this is my last post here because I've got work to get on with...but I can't let your comments go with a reply.

You don't seem to be hearing what you say. You've said at least twice in this thread that the OP's post should not be in S&B because this is the place to get away from negative stuff about body image etc( you'll have to find your exact words- I don't have time.)

You are sadly misinformed about the risk of weight.

Being a stone overweight for older women ( near menopause age) carries the same increased risk for breast cancer as having one drink a day, and more risk than HRT- ( something many women don't want to take because they overestimate the risks) . The huge rise in breast cancer , and the epidemic of diabetes is a result of weight gain.

You may be able to carry an extra stone and not feel much different but not everyone can- or should.

And I think it's very relevant to look at the bigger picture of public health from 30-40 years ago and compare it with overall weight related illnesses we see now.

Regina

glad you are off to work as that just sounds like further tripe imo

In answer to the original question - yes you should take BMI seriously. Its not just from BMI 30 onwards thats being overweight can cause health problems. The likelihood of getting certain cancers is increased the higher your BMI. So you are more at risk with BMI of 25 than a BMI of 22, both of which are in the 'healthy' range.

perry if you have to resort to being rude rather than dealing with the facts, then that says an awful lot.

Call it tripe if you wish.

You only have to do a tiny bit of research to find out the facts - or rather " tripe".

There is masses of evidence showing that the post war diet bred a healthier nation than we are now. And as for people being smaller- LOL- we are talking 50 years back - not 500.

If you want to ignore medical evidence and endanger your health than go ahead.

Regina

50 years ago people were smaller
Maybe the size of your dad or husband?

I read somewhere that a study revealed those who live the longest generally have a bmi of 26. The study suggested therefore that bmi is a little out in terms of where it starts to consider overweight.

And no, I'm not saying it cos my own bmi is 26!!! I'm down at 21 lol.

This might sound stupid but what if you're a healthy size for your height but you have really big boobs which would bring your weight up, would your bmi show you to be overweight even if you weren't?

I'm 5"4/5"5 (can't remember which as it was ages ago I measured myself) and am a size 10 but am 10wks pregnant and really bloated so have went up to a size 12 in some shops which I think is a healthy size for my height, but I've got size F boobs and a bmi of 28. Personally I would prefer to lose weight and will be exercising again once ms stops but in the past no amount of exercising has brought my bust size down, would this still impact on my bmi?

Panda
Speak to your mw about it if you are worried but I'm sure you are fine.

I am shocked when I read here of women who are saying they are 13.5 stone because that is more than many men- fit muscly men!

Being heavier than a man doesn't necessarily mean anything, some "fit muscly" men are 5'6" and 8 stone, Serena Williams is fit and muscly and 6' 2" and 14 stone.

I will always be heavier than some men even at ideal BMI.

Panda, my bmi is spot on 25. I'm 5ft7 and wear size 12 mostly, slim arms and legs etc. but seriously massive tits (30j) which I hate and which means I need size 16 tops.

If I had sensible tits I reckon I'd weigh at least half a stone less and my bmi would be smack on 22.