So this is what overweight looks like?

[OrangeLavenders]

I'm quite surprised. Checked the scales a few weeks back and I weighed 12 stone. Visited my GP for something else recently who confirmed that yes, I was quite bit over BMI of healthy range.

I've lost 7 pounds in just over 10 days. Nothing ridiculous. Just normal eating with no snacks and counting calories.

I just thought overweight looked a lot bigger than this? Scary how in 2020 we actually have a warped idea of what's a healthy weight and what isn't. I thought I looked perfectly fine but the reith is different.

Anyone else think a lot of us think what we might see as 'fine' is actually an overweight person?

I'm not a self conscious person so feel free to tell me I do in fact look clearly overweight! It doesn't bother me as I'm happily changing things. Although I'm sour about not having many luxuries anymore treat wise

But gubbbbbddaaaa she is a whole 2 stone heavier than you, that's the surprising thing, and you say looks like you at 10stone! As I said I didn't look that well at 10st 4 at 5ft2.. It's mad to me.

BMI is what is used though in calculating the links to cancer, cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis etc....no adjustments are for erg scores and beep testing. You cant look at someone and say "you won't have weight related health issues". The data showing those links are not based on what you look like or your erg score

Not sure if you are trying to willfully miss my point. BMI is a useful, simple health measurement that can be used across a large sample of people. All I am saying is use the BMI in conjunction with a bit of common sense in relation to your specific body type. For example, Pakistani/Indian men have a predisposition to gather fat around their stomachs while still maintaining relatively slender frames. According to a BMI calc these men would be classed as normal weight despite carrying a lot of visceral fat and the higher health risks that come with it.

@DillonPanthersTexas

BMI is what is used though in calculating the links to cancer, cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis etc....no adjustments are for erg scores and beep testing. You cant look at someone and say "you won't have weight related health issues". The data showing those links are not based on what you look like or your erg score

Not sure if you are trying to willfully miss my point. BMI is a useful, simple health measurement that can be used across a large sample of people. All I am saying is use the BMI in conjunction with a bit of common sense in relation to your specific body type. For example, Pakistani/Indian men have a predisposition to gather fat around their stomachs while still maintaining relatively slender frames. According to a BMI calc these men would be classed as normal weight despite carrying a lot of visceral fat and the higher health risks that come with it.

Precisely, Dillon. And the paper someone linked to upthread as a kind of gotcha isn't a gotcha at all; it draws attention to the fact that the main problem with BMI is that it misses a relatively high fraction of people who actually are obese in terms of % of body fat but have relatively low BMIs. As a test it's pretty good in terms of its positive results - if it tells you you're obese, it's very, very likely that you are in fact obese.

I’m the same height as you, OP. I looked a lot fatter than you do when I weighed 10st. There’s absolutely no rhyme or reason to it at all.

Compared to the older generation, (people now in their 70's), many more of us are overweight and it's easy to kind of start thinking we're not that bad as we don't stand out from the crowd of generally overweight people. You don't look that overweight, but if we went back to the 50's or 60's you possibly would notice it more in comparison to the generally slim population back then.

The OP has a classic curvy figure with weight distributed on her legs, bum and boobs. If it was all gathered around her tummy that would be more of an issue, hense my 'common sense' comment

Exactly - what you really need to worry about is visceral fat, fat around your middle. Being a pear shape is much, much healthier, but what you have to watch out for (and I really guard against) is changing to an apple shape in middle age and having a waist measurement of 32" or more which puts you at risk of diabetes etc.

Also it is futile and counterproductive to compare yourself to people in an earlier age. We don't need to get back to that - we need to move forward with what we have.

I almost ended up with an eating disorder in my 20s trying to make my naturally muscular legs skinny. The only time my legs were skinny was when I was 7 years old and nearly died from a serious infection from chickenpox and was on a drip for two weeks. They are always muscular and the only thing I can change is how much fat is on top of the muscle. The width of my knee bones alone is wider than most people's knees with flesh on them.

Maybe you already lost enough with your 7lb so now you are at a healthy BMI? Which is why you don't look overweight at all in the pic.

Show us a side shot. Think most people show their weight much more from this angle rather than from the front (or back I guess).

And just to add at just an inch shorter, I was in overweight range a few weeks ago at 9.5 stone.. Not far into it but into it nonetheless. It is helpful as a flag (BMI).

You've got a gorgeous figure but you do have some excess body fat. I don't think it's a health concern as your waist looks slim. Someone else of your height and weight might look much more overweight if the fat was distributed more on the waist and belly

I’m 5 foot 3 and currently 11st 2lb and I desperately want to loose weight. I have friends that would love my figure as they are much much heavier, but I know that I’m overweight, I know it’s extra weight on my joints especially my knees and I want to have a good and healthy old age where I am able to travel a lot.

I think as others have said body fat is probably better than BMI, as lean muscle takes up less space than fat and supports the body.

Also, let’s be clear- OP is not a few pounds overweight, she is about 2 and half stone overweight! I think that’s mad.

Ah the much touted very interesting 'fat around the middle' danger

I'm obese, having bariatric surgery next week and my waist is 29 inches

Used to be 26 inches when I was 'overweight'

And 24 when I'm just into 'healthy' weight

When I went to the GP and we talked about weight I mentioned the waist measurement and he said 'yes, we must get you below 32 inches as that's the best indicator of fat around your organs'

I said 'it's 29' and he then measured me and said he was proper flummoxed but that I proved we were all different

(I have an hourglass figure)

BMI in most cases is a useful ‘indicator’ of health, but it should be seen in the context of the wider picture - muscle mass, where you carry that weight, waist size etc. Common sense should be applied.

You look lovely and not fat. Maybe stop weighing yourself and enjoy your life?

Show us a side shot. Think most people show their weight much more from this angle rather than from the front (or back I guess).

There you go. I've also stepped onto the scales to prove my weight, but I now see I've gained weight! What on earth? Perhaps water retention... I'm most certainly in calorie deficit and not eating 'secret foods'

Oh well, hopefully it'll reflect better on Monday

I think you definitely do look overweight, though are carrying it well, sorry. This thread does demonstrate well how warped our perception of a healthy weight is.

Hmmmm. I think we need a handstand photo to properly assess you.

You look good id be happy to look like op

Chocolate I agree. And I think social media is now going the other way and promoting being overweight as 'curvy and glowing'. That lady from Love Island for example, Malin Andersson

I'm obese, having bariatric surgery next week and my waist is 29 inches

Are you very short? Because otherwise I am pretty much 😮

@WinterAndRoughWeather I weighed nearly 19 stone at the time .

You look overweight.

Considering that more than 50% of women in the UK are overweight, perception of what overweight looks like is becoming deceptive.

Anyway. The way I look at it is this.

(a) I have been advised by doctors who specialise in weight management that whilst I am undoubtedly obese, BMI will not work for me personally in terms of deciding how much weight to lose and they have said that I should aim for 14.5 stone and then take some more advice. I am going to follow that advice.

(b) I have tried to get down to 12 stone 7lb and every time I have tried I have been unable to get much below 14 stone before the calorie cut becomes untenable.

(c) I think this probably means that the doctors I have spoken to are right.

(d) Even if they are not, I know my limits and I would rather lose 6-7 stone and maintain it, even if that leaves me in the overweight/borderline obese range, than try to go below that and then rebound into morbid obesity again. I know that 14-15 stone has me in a range where I feel comfortable and healthy and can buy decent clothes in normal shops.

Obviously I am not going to tell anyone else to do what I am doing and the BMI may be fine for all/most of the people on this thread.

And the vanity sizing also an issue. As I said at 9.5st I was in overweight bmi range but still I size 8 Next and M&S tops thar weren't even nearly tight.. Trousers on the other hand..