BMI as you age, did it used to allow for an increase as you age or is that a false memory?

[OuiRagamuffin]

I feel like I remember from childhood a slimming world cook book belonging to my mother, it had a BMI chart at the front, I remember :-| a chart that was was divided by age bands, and the healthy numbers increased a bit as you aged.

Is this a false memory??

Lots of charts in older books have an age allowance, you are not definitely not misremembering, I have no idea if current "ideas" allow it or not though.

Glad you remember that too.

The NHS BMI calculator takes your age in the calculation.

Some newer calculators also take into account activity levels and age. Although, BMI is often seen as flawed. Especially as the healthy weight range is so broad.

I guess it's how you look and feel. It's definitely not a one size fits all approach. Even though it's often perceived in that way!

I saw something on NHS site saying older adults can be healthy "fare better," with a bmi between 25 and 27

I'm focusing on health though. Not numbers.

When they say "older people" I assumed they're talking about retired and elderly who might become frail if they get ill at a low BMI, not people in their 50s or 60s.

I think the higher bmi in old age is about striking a balance between cardiovascular health and strain on joints with factors like maintaining adequate muscle mass and bone strength.

Coincidentally, I was googling ideal weights for older people earlier today. There is what looks like sound research showing that people over 65 with BMI of between 25 and 27 do best. I will try to find link and post it. (American site, but citing International research I think.)

https://www.verywellhealth.com/healthy-weight-and-bmi-range-for-older-adults-2223592

This is the link. Article updated April.

I think 50 is a considered old unfortunately . Post menopausal women store fat differently. I’m on HRT which caused an immediate half a stone on of water weight. So at pretty funny that I fast all day until 3.30pm every day and then eat under 1500 cals a day and still don’t lose weight. I walk around 10,000 steps a day and don’t drink any alcohol. It makes me wonder just how little I’d actually have to eat to lose weight if I wanted to 🤣

The higher BMI for older people might have been just for women in terms of protecting against osteoporosis. Like pps I need to check it but I've definitely read it somewhere.

Thanks everybody, good link there, I feel reassured by it.

I've a BMI of 26.5 and like @RudsyFarmer I have good habits, avoid sugar, food in wrappers, refined carbs, limited complex carbs (some legumes, porridge occasionally, root veg for example, brown soda bread). I avoid veg oils but I don't go mad with butter either. Prefer to get fats from avocados, walnuts, oily fish. I watch portions (but don't go hungry. Occasionally I might be hungry but I don't "do it to suffer"). I'm good at calculating calorie values as I google, weigh and check. Bottom line, although I eat about 1400 cals of healthy food most days, I could survive (hungrily) on half that no doubt and still wouldn't end up thin! But at least MY BMI of 26.5 is not a sign my health would automatically definitely be better if I lost another few kilos.
Think I'm going to relax. I dont mean eat badly, I just mean, relax = stop believing I would automatically be healthier if I lost weight.

I just put the same height/weight etc into the NHS BMI calculator aged 25 and then aged 55. It gave the exact same result, so no alteration for age. No idea if this has always been the case.

I wonder why the tool asks your age if it makes no difference!

I wonder why the tool asks your age if it makes no difference!

If I remember correctly, it can make a difference to the recommendations given when you get the numerical result.