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