Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Flip

Original poster

Have we (I) become body dysmorphic?

6 replies

Bennifer · 18/05/2011 15:43

I'm 170cm tall and weigh 72kg, which gives me a BMI of 25. I appreciate I'm not a rake, but in my eyes, I'd be described as slim(ish), certainly wouldn't describe me as overweight.

However, because there are so many overweight people these days, have I (and many others) become dysmorphic and unable to recognise what overweight is?

I'm really annoyed I'm close to overweight, but am I more annoyed with not recognising it?

OP posts:

foreverondiet · 18/05/2011 15:57

When my BMI is 25 I look a bit fat but I am shorter than you so not sure if that makes a difference (I'm 5 foot 4). In some countries normal weight is now up to 23 rather than 25. My BMI is now around 21.5 and only now do I think I look slim.

Of course you could have a BMI of 25 but be very muscular/athletic and look slim.... which is why BMI is such a poor measurement of being overweight.

So:
a) what is your waist measurement and
b) why are you annoyed you are close to being "overweight"?

Original poster

Bennifer · 18/05/2011 15:59

I don't know my waist measurement. I'm annoyed about being overweight as I don't want to be. I'm really pissed off with this today though (more so with myself for not even seeing myself as anywhere near overweight)

OP posts:

foreverondiet · 18/05/2011 16:07

Waist measurement gives better indication of whether your are overweight... and anyway why do you care if you think you look "slim(ish)"

Original poster

Bennifer · 18/05/2011 16:09

Because I'm vain, and I worry about my health - it's more the latter. I look slim, it's the bloody numbers that tell me I'm just about overweight

OP posts:

ithaka · 18/05/2011 16:13

Just about overweight is not the same as being overweight - if you are in a healthy bmi range your health will be fine. I know bmi is much criticised, but I think it is useful that it gives a wide range for 'healthy' - anything else is a matter of aesthetics. I like to have a bmi of 21 as that is how I think I look best (vain) but I could be chunkier and still healthy.

foreverondiet · 18/05/2011 16:15

Well no point in worrying about health until you have checked waist measurement. The risks associated with being overweight are when fat is stored on waist/stomach.

In some ways BMI is meaningless. Someone could have a healthy BMI but have thin arms and legs and fat on waist and be at risk of health issues. Another could have a BMI that categorises them as being overweight but because of where the weight is (and maybe its muscle) they are not putting their health at risk.

Flip