Frame size and BMI

[switchname]

I love hearing about the positive stories on this board, and hopefully I can have one to add.

I’ve been on wegovy for eight months now and have lost over 20% of my body weight and my current BMI is 21.6. I’m post menopausal and still have flabby bits left on my stomach, thighs, arms, etc. I’ve been working out daily and have increased my skeletal muscle so my body composition has also improved.

I am quite small boned, so I’m keen to hear what other small framed people advise for BMI. I’m thinking that a BMI of 21 would be acceptable. I have a health condition which means excess fat is not recommended.

With thanks 😊

That’s a bit odd. Do you have health conditions that would preclude you? If not, I’d eat a big meal, drink a couple of litres of water and weigh myself In jeans in the evening. Or I’d lie and shrink my height by an inch.

@BuntyBeaufort Voy aren't dodgy. They are a mainstream legitimate online weight loss service, registered and regulated just like the other ones you've mentioned are.

They are a subscription model service, and they can be pretty expensive, so that's worth checking - that you know how long you are subscribed for, if/how to cancel and what the actual cost each month will be after any initial discounts.

I am surprised that MedExpress said no, was this recently? Their change to prescribe to BMI 25+ was only in the last couple of months or so.

Bone mass is indeed just a small % of bodyweigh, but yes of course we have different frames and some people have literally wider/bigger bones.Plenty of studies, for example Functional integration of skeletal traits found that bones of similar length differed substantially in width and overall structure.
I do have robust bones, my ankles are for example sturdier than DH's slim delicate ones, so indeed I will look bony at a weight where a small framed person would look just slim.

However, body composition and muscle mass makes a much bigger difference.

@BuntyBeaufort do look carefully at the prescribing criteria and make sure you fill in the form in a way that makes clear how you meet them. You almost certainly do.

Try and increase your muscle mass. That way you can have a BMI of 21 with no flabby bits. My BMI is 23 but I have visible abs. My bodyfat is circa 18%. My guess is that if you have a BMI of 21 and have flabby bits you could be “skinny fat”

I'm 5'8 with a BMI of 27, I'm a size 10-12. I currently weigh 12st 11. I would say I have a large frame (wide feet, big hands and head, wide ribcage and hips) but I look a healthy size and feel good. My daughter is also 5'8 but has a small frame (small hands and feet, narrow hips, tiny waist). Shes a size 6-8. I would describe her as slender. I will never be able to get down to the same weight as her as per my ideal BMI, I would look ill. My BMI indicates I'm "overweight" but my waist to hip ratio is now in the healthy range. I think too much emphasis is put on BMI.