NHS CALCULATOR---Healthy weight range for your height

[mumznet]

So, the BMI calculator states that a healthy weight for me is 49.2kg - 66.4kg.

currently I am on 70.7, so aiming for 4.3 kg to come down to my normal weight range. One thing I am not so sure about is do I still need to lose more, and be in the middle so and be at 57.8 kg. Or does it not matter?

I thought if I am right towards the end, so near 66 kg then if I put on a little bit of weight I would go into the overweight region again. So is it best to be in the middle, or at the very low end --49.2 kg?

or does it not matter where you are in that range.it makes no difference?? Thank you

I suggest people Google " Why BMI is flawed" and have a read. Many interesting articles.

Ever heard the claim that a pound of muscle weighs more than a pound of fat? It's false! A pound is a pound (of feathers, glass, Jell-O — you name it). However, muscle does have a greater density than fat, meaning it takes up less volume than an equal amount of fat.

yep

@mumznet

It's better to be in the middle or the lower end of BMI - otherwise you run the risks of being unhealthily overweight.

I'm at the upper end of my BMI range but according to the waist/height ratio thing I need to lose 1 inch from my waist.
I think I knew I was still a bit tubby really but needed something concrete to aim for.

@anotherbrewplease

Ever heard the claim that a pound of muscle weighs more than a pound of fat? It's false! A pound is a pound (of feathers, glass, Jell-O — you name it). However, muscle does have a greater density than fat, meaning it takes up less volume than an equal amount of fat.

yep

Eh? A pound is a measurement of weight. A pound can't weigh more than a pound. For this supposed 'claim' to make sense it would have to refer to volume e.g. 1 cubic cm of muscle weighs more than 1 cubic cm of fat.

@Zazdar the study is from initial weight / BMI and a follow up of mortality in the following 5-12 years as it is a meta analysis of various studies, so it is not weight at death, which you correctly said can be because of the illnesses so overall the study showed that for people with BMI in the 23-33 range there mortality was inline with average there was no influence but for those with BMI's under 23 and over 33 there was a significant change from average which was not just within statisitcal norms

sorry typos

@anotherbrewplease thanks that is useful to know. will aim to be in the middle somewhere.

I haven't checked my waist. will measure and post here. However, I am carrying weight in the tummy area which I understand is the worst!

so, my friend who is 5'6, she weighs 72-74kg. She doesn't consider herself overweight as she says that her weight is from muscle as she works out. She does squats and lunges and loads of other things. Her figure is not the usual hour glass, it is really broad shoulder and then narrow hips. So to balance it out she does the squats and lunges and loads other things (I can't even remember what else she said), treadmill, cross trainer etc. She does the squats to make her bum bigger to balance it out with the broad shoulders.

In comparison I don't work out so mine is just fat. Would we still class the friend as overweight or is it fine to build muscle and be slightly overweight?

@Antarcticant

My optimum BMI is around 22 in my opinion, but since menopause my body seems to differ and it's settled around 23 at the moment. I hate my shape - I am an inverted triangle with a large bust and narrow hips. I'm 5'4 and my waist is 30 inches so just about a healthy ratio. In my youth, my waist was a bit smaller, but after my hysterectomy, my stomach muscles seem to have expanded .

@Antarcticant have you considered doing squats and other exercises, to make the lower half bigger, then the inverted triangle may appear better? A friend of mine with really broad shoulders does this and she appears fine although slightly overweight now from muscle

@anotherbrewplease

Ever heard the claim that a pound of muscle weighs more than a pound of fat? It's false! A pound is a pound (of feathers, glass, Jell-O — you name it). However, muscle does have a greater density than fat, meaning it takes up less volume than an equal amount of fat.

yep

I've literally never heard anyone make that claim.

Lots of people say muscle weighs more than fat. I've never heard ANYONE say a pound of muscle weighs more than a pound of fat.

In comparison I don't work out so mine is just fat. Would we still class the friend as overweight or is it fine to build muscle and be slightly overweight

I would wonder how much of her weight is actually muscle. I’m the same height, lift heavy weights, run, and do all the lungey stuff, but am 20kg lighter.

thanks @zazdar, that does make sense. Perhaps the friend is doing a comparison of herself with heavy muscular women who work out for sports.

I saw on TV the other day they are moving away from BMI as an indication of whether or not a person needs to lose weight. Your waist measurement should be no more than half your height measurement. That's the latest apparently.,

@Viviennemary my waist is about 88-89 cm. and height 163 cm. so my waist is more than half. but only 7.5 cm more. so how much weight should I lose ? I don't think the waist measurement is helping with telling people how much to lose etc?

I am fine to cut sugar and have been doing since feb. But recently my period started on 20th, and then I have been eating sugary foods again buns, biscuits chocolates. etc. Some reason when my period comes I feel really strange.

what can I do around period time and on period days to not eat sweet stuff?? thanks

weight is 69.4 kg at the moment. I am trying to reduce stress, I think if am stressed then I do sometimes order a take away, or eat any foods at home around period days. how can I stiop eating from stress particulalry around period days.?

If you’re white.

It is horribly outdated.

Is BMI really so outdated for most people? I am pretty muscular (as verified by DEXA) but still healthier in the normal BMI Range, just not at the bottom of it. I sort of get that a male Crossfit/weightlifter may be healthiest at BMI 27, but are there really all these women who carry that much muscle? I do sometimes think (and I have previously been in this camp so no judgement - or more a judgement only past self) that the ‚BMI is outdated argument‘ does perhaps allow us to kid ourselves about being a bit plump sometimes! And as for the OP’s question, I’d just focus on maintaining my weight at the top of the healthy range for a while, then perhaps reassessing/deciding if I needed to lose a few more pounds. After all, maintenance is the challenge that deserves most focus.