Question:
How can I still be considered obese?
I had surgery 18 months ago. I weighed 301 and have lost 150 pounds. For the fun of it, I went to calculate my BMI and was surprised that I'm still considered "Obese". How can that be? My BMI was 31.7. — dolphins94 (posted on January 2, 2003)
January 2, 2003
discouraging, isn't it?? You must be shorter then I am, at 149, I would not
be concidered obese any more. I am 5'4". That is one of the reasons
that they are still talking about changing some of the guidelines for BMI.
Also, we do not all have the same muscle and bone structure or weight, so
that makes our weights different too. Don't sweat it. I am sure you look
MAAAAAVELOUS!!
— Vicki L.
January 2, 2003
Don't worry about it. It's just a label. You're so much more than a
label. If you're feeling good, that's all that matters!<br>Kelly
— Kelly B.
January 2, 2003
Something to remember: BMI does not change, no matter what your body type
is like. I am also 5' 4" (pre-op). I have a very large bone
structure. My doctor showed me that the insurance tables indicate the
right weight for me is between 137 and 151 pounds. (And everyone usually
says that the insurance table weights are too small!) That range is his
goal for me. So, it really depends on what you look like at your weight!
— Beth S.
January 2, 2003
Hi Susan...I looked at your profile and you look wonderful! Screw the BMI
chart, you look great!
— Kimberly S.
January 2, 2003
I believe that if your BMI is over 25 (or is it 30?) you are considered
obese as far as those damn charts go...I started at 321, am at 233 after
just over 3 months. My BMI is now 38.8 so I am no longer
<b>morbidly</b> obese. That alone makes me happy. I don't think
I want to be smaller than about 160 pounds which means I will still be
considered obese. If one is 25-30 pounds over their "ideal"
weight, they are called obese. Thats crazy. I would have thought that would
make one "overweight" not "obese". Until I started
researching WLS, I didn't realize I was morbidly obese- always thought
those who were unable to leave their homes were given that label and that
was not me. Imagine my shock to find out that I was actually considered
<b><i>super</b></i> morbidly obese because my BMI
was over 50!!! I guess what I am getting at is when you have been where we
have been, those labels are really just a blur. I still want to lose
another 70+ pounds but I honestly feel happy where I am now. I am the
healthiest I have been in forever and I look great so I could care less
about those charts. I prefer the label "happy" over obese
anyways!
— karmiausnic
January 3, 2003
I am NOT a proponent of the BMI charts and keep in mind that they do not
discriminate between small boned, big boned, or muscle vs. fat. My
husband, who looks like the cover of Muscle and Fitness magazine with very
little fat on his body is considered overweight! For that matter, so is
Tom Cruise! I say toss the BMI charts and go by your size and how you look
in your clothes. For me to get out of the overweight category I would have
to weigh less than I weighed when I was a size 8 many years ago....yeah,
right.
— Cindy R.
January 3, 2003
Have you tried measuring your percent body fat? That to me is more reliable
as a measure of health than BMI. The previous poster who said her muscle-y
hubby would be considered obese shows the downfall of the BMI system. It
doesn't take into account the source of the weight. I weigh about 125 but
more than 100 pounds of it is lean body mass. Even though the insurance
charts have my ideal weight as 110-115 pounds, I am healthy where I am
right now, whereas before when I DID weigh 115 pounds I was actually
"fat" because I only had about 50 pounds of lean body mass. I'm
with the other poster. You look great, you feel great . . . Who cares about
classifications? BMI will soon be replaced with the next great method of
making people feel inadequate and you'll still feel great!
— ctyst
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