What's your BMI/dress size?

[Kaloobear]

One thing I've noticed as I've lost weight is that I've lost dress sizes far more quickly as I've got thinner. (Does that make sense?!) So when my BMI was 27-31 ish I was a size 16, at 25-26 a size 14, at 24 a 12, at 23 a 10, at 22 an 8 and now it's 21 I'm finding I need a 6 in some clothes. It's odd because the difference between a BMI of 21 and 22 or 22 and 23 is really only a few pounds. It's also odd because with a BMI of 21 I could feasibly lose a stone and still be considered healthy (I'm not going to though) but if I'm wearing a 6/8 now what size would I be if I had a BMI of 18?! I wouldn't be able to buy clothes!

Just wondered if anyone else had noticed this.

[armerk]

Creamtea1 yeah agree with you there I’m same height as you 5ft 6 and I’m 7st 10 bmi 17.5, and I wear size 4 to 6

[GobblersKnob]

Agree so much depends on frame, I am 5'10" a big size 12 bmi is 20.2.

[ShowOfHands]

My BMI is 21.09 and I'm 5ft 3" and a size 10.

The differences are very interesting. I've just lost 3 stones (over 9 months, not overnight) and my BMI has gone down drastically but I've only actually changed from a 12/14 to a size 10. Largely because the weight was leftover from pregnancy/emcs and comprised a lot of stores for making milk and a lot of water.

To get down to a size 8 I would need to lose at least a stone and I would be classed as underweight. I could never, ever be a size 6 or lower. As a size 8 I would look bloody awful.

[Fluffy1234]

That's what I found. When I was 13 and half stone to 11 and a half stone I was a size 16. Then went to a size 14 and stayed at that until 10 and a half stone. Then went into size 12 for a stone. But I found I then only had to lose half a stone, so now 9 stone to be a size 10.

[Itwillendinsmiles]

Going back to your original point re. "as I've lost weight is that I've lost dress sizes far more quickly as I've got thinner."

Maybe this is because the percentage of your body weight lost increases as you weigh less? (given the same loss of actual pounds)

Eg. at 300lbs, losing 20lbs is a 6.6% loss,
at 200lbs losing 20lbs is a 10 % loss,
at 150lbs, losing 20 lbs is a 13.3 % loss

I'm 5'7", BMI 21.5 and medium framed, wearing size 10 or 12.

[fatlazymummy]

My BMI is 25.5 [from 37]
I wear size 12 bottoms, 12 or 14 tops. I am 5' 4''.
People carry their weight differently, and shops use different measurments, so I don't focus on it too much [it is nice to wear 'normal' sizes though]
I am aiming to lose another stone/couple of inches so I expect that will lead to 1 more smaller dress size.

[mumat39]

No matter what anyone says I do think it's interesting.

BMI has always just been this number that doesn't really equate to anything. So seeing others experiences of how their BMI and weight relate to each other is in my opinion interesting.

TBH I need to lose weight but i don't know how much I should lose or what I should get down to. So I am also aiming to get to a lower BMI at somewhere in the healthy range.

I used to aspire to be thin, but now I just want to be healthy.

I realise that it won't be the same for me or what I experience won't be the same for anyone else.

Kaloo, sorry if my reply sparked some negative comments.

[smokinaces]

Oh and I'm 5ft 4 and a bit (164cm)

[smokinaces]

My bmi is 24.something. I'm only just in the good area.

My top half is a 12-14. 34e boobs. My bottom half is now verging on a 10-12 (wearing tens from next, primark and Asda) I'm a top heavy hourglass according to those sites.

[Kaloobear]

I'm so sorry Creamtea

I'm just interested. The randomness of it all and the fact that there are so many variables is what interests me! The fact that losing or gaining a few pounds can make such a difference to dress size is bizarre, as is the fact that I, personally, could weigh anything between 11.5 stone and 13.5 stone and be a size 16. When losing weight I focused on getting down to a healthy BMI because I didn't feel I could rely on clothes size to tell me where I was healthy, but that too is clearly not a helpful way to measure health. I wonder why it is used and whether things like body fat or dress size or body shape or a combination-e.g. dress size taking into account your body shape?-would be a more useful indication. If teenage girls were told to aim to be a dress size of size 8-14 (or whatever) would that be less intimidating than a BMI to aim for, or a certain weight? Or would it not work because dress sizes too seem to be so random.

Anyway, as I said, I'm just interested.

[LadyWellian]

My BMI is dead on 23 and I wear a size 12/14. I am 5'6". When I was first pregnant with DD (13 years ago and the lightest I've been in the last 20 years, though I haven't varied much), my BMI would apparently have been about 20.7, but I was still a size 12/14. (The 14 is boobs).

[Pannacotta]

I think its all random and quite unhelpful really and very much depends on your frame and body type.
My BMI is only 19.5 and at 5ft 5/6 I wear a size 10 or 12 as I have broad shoulders and ribs.

[FioFio]

I have bmi 25 and a size 14 at 5 9

[Creamtea1]

These threads do not help anyone as it varies so much.
I am complete average 5 ft 6 and bmi is 21.7. I am size 10 top and bottom.
For someone of my height to wear a size 6 clothes they would need to be 7 stone something in weight

[MarysBeard]

BMI 27/28 - size 14. 171cm tall so 5ft 7 and a bit.

[sweetheart]

My BMI is 25.6 and I'm a 12 on bottom and a 8-10 on top. I'm a bit heavy at the moment but with a BMI of 23 I'm a size 8-10 so not much change there. I'm 5ft 5. I think I must have heavy bones as I always seem to be a high weight for the size clothes I buy. Either that or maybe my clothes just look rubbish and are too small

[thestringcheesemassacre]

BMI 25 (I'm right at the top of my healthy range).
12-14.

[TheSmallPrint]

I have lost 17lbs with WW over the last 5 months, I don't really feel like I am doing without too much.

[Kaloobear]

Weightwatchers! I don't buy into the meals or snacks they sell but I do think the principles of eat sensible size portions, choose healthy foods and do some exercise are good. And the meetings give you a framework to keep you focused.

[mumat39]

Wow. Well Done to you all. I'm in awe and a little bit envious.

Can I ask, what did you all do to reduce your BMI's so significantly?

Mine is 26.9 and I'm about 2 to 2.5 stones over weight.

This is a really good thread as I've never known what it might mean if I managed to lower my BMI so seeing the correlation between BMI and dress size (obv considering height, build etc.) is really interesting and actually motivating.

Congratulations again to you all on your amazing acheivements.

:)

[Fluffy1234]

Yes I am really chuffed. Thankyou.

[RetiredDJ]

Well done fluffy1234 you must be so proud of yourself.
I know I would be!

I'm BMI 27.5 () and a size 12/14. I'm 5' 3"
Healthy eating started last week though and I'm feeling positive.

[spiderlight]

BMI 23, size 12-14

[TheSmallPrint]

BMI 23 Size 14

I am 5' 10" though.

[Fluffy1234]

23.5- size 10
Last year bmi 35 and a size 16 to 18!