I had a medical today and I was s bit shocked..

[crazydoglady6867]

I know I am fat but during a medical today I was told I was obese, well now I am sad, can I put some pictures on to see if I look obese and ask is BMI really all that?!!!

Does if matter if you look obese if the medical said your bmi says you are?

Sorry you’re feeling badly.

Would you like to lose weight or are you happy with how you are at the moment?

Don't put your picture up. People will be horrible.

I thought I was ok about my weight, but lately I’m not so sure. I don’t mind people being horrid if they give an honest opinion.

You’ve had an examination by a qualified medical professional and they’ve assessed you as being obese.
Are a slew of “oh, you look fab, hun, don’t mind what they said!” posts really going to change anything?

I'd advise against putting up pictures. For most people BMI is a good indicator, it won't be for those very muscular physiques but for the vast majority it does point to whether you are overweight. I'd treat it as a wake up call and decide whether you want to do something about it - did the GP/nurse give you any advice?

Op, don't be too hard on yourself. You don't look obese but you are carrying a bit too much weight around your middle.

Small changes.... less snacks, more veg, more exercise, etc. will shift that.

You don't look obese to me.

Bmi and health and medical checks are not about whether you look ok from a fashion/beauty point of view.

You look...like a person

How fit are you? Do you do exercise?

BMI is a reasonable measure for most of the population. Rugby players etc. are an exception. The word obese is a medical term here and means you've gon from one category of weight/height ratio into another.

You are medically obese (like me).

You have two choices.

I have chosen to lose weight and deal with it (stuff the happy to be fat movement)

Or

Get loads of 'you look great, hun. Don’t listen to them etc'

What are you choosing to do.

I’ve lost a stone. Three to go.

You don't look huge, but you do look overweight. And I think you are really brave to post pictures!

Two years ago I was 3lbs away from being obese. I’ve lost the weight now and am a healthy weight (though now trying to lose the stone or so that Imlet creep on...). At the time I was horrified to find out I was so close to being obese but in hindsight I really did look it- I just didn’t think I did. Not trying to sound horrid, OP, but you do look similar to how I looked at the time.

Yeah, it has been a wake up call today, the nurse told me I should lose at least a Stone in weight and looking at the photos I think she may be right!! I will definitely do something about it as in my mid fifties I need to look after my body as best I can. On the positive side I am very healthy, just weighty, no Bp or cholesterol issues etc, This medical was a birthday present from my kids last year and I only got round to having it now!

Unless you are an athlete then BMI is a fairly good indicator of where you are. Without knowing your age, lifestyle, activity height and weight it isn't something anyone can judge accurately on the internet though.

Ps

To be really harsh.

Lose the weigh (I know it’s easier said than done, but it’s either lose it or don’t).

Look back at this picture after and compare. I think you’ll be surprised how big you are now. It’s only since I started losing weight that I realised how big I actually was to start with.

You look like me op.

I'd not be happy but would take it as a reason for needing to lose some weight. I'm right on the line between overweight and obese re BMI, I know I'm heavier than I should be, but I also know I'm a solid build even when I'm slim and think I must have dense bones. If I was perfect BMI I would probably have sticky out ribs and bones

Sorry op, but this is exactly what obese looks like. So many people are over weight or obese now that people don't recognise it when they see it, it just looks normal. I get how you feel. I found out I was obese a few months ago and I really didn't think I looked it, at only a size 14, but I was. Am now just starting to lose a few lbs. 1.5-2 stone and I'll be back in the healthy category. Are you starting cutting down or any sort of changes?

wicked that is not unkind I put the pictures up to get an honest opinion as I think too many people are too kind to me. I think my kids were trying to tell me something getting me the medical assessment actually, so I should thank them I suppose. My daughter rang me to ask how I got on and I told her what they said and she said well they are the experts

You look very far from grotesque but you do seem to be storing fat in your middle areas

This is a red flag for stroke, heart disease and all those other nasties

Some people underestimate their weight problem when they look at slim extremities

I think that the problem is that there are so many people around who are much more obese that overweight/ borderline obese seems quite normal. Will you feel happier if you lose a bit of weight?

I am very clued up on diet and know what I SHOULD be doing so yes I am going to lose some weight, I don’t want to have an unhealthy old age. I joined weight watchers online a week ago so I must have known what they were going to say at this medical!!!

I think the issue is most people don't realise what being medically obese looks like. When I think of obese I think of someone maybe size 20+, but in reality someone who is a size 20 could (I don't know) actually categorise as morbidly obese.

If I was perfect BMI I would probably have sticky out ribs and bones

^ I hear this kind if comment a lot and it gets on my nerves. You SHOULD be able to see a healthy adult's ribs. As a society we've lost by sight of what a normal, healthy weight looks like to the extent that apparently visible ribs is now 'skeletal'.