Whose goal weight is underweight (bmi<18)? And is it sustainable?

nataliebyan0

I know this is probably going to sound unhealthy to some people but my goal weight is a bmi of 17.5.

I'm very tall, very small framed, and apple shaped so a healthy bmi actually make me look chubby. I've been consistently at bmi of 17 before I had my two daughters without having to try too hard. Now I would like to get back to my pre pregnancy weight and feel good about myself again.

However this time around it seems like my body is making it difficult the closer I get to my goal weight? I'm wondering if it's because my natural equilibrium weight has shifted higher post pregnancy. Has anyone successfully maintain a bmi of less than 18 for a long term? And how many calories do you eat to maintain ?

amusedmonkey

When you were at 17 BMI was it hard for you to maintain or did you feel you were constantly losing the battle? Did the weight gain come about from being unable to maintain or did it have other reasons (pregnancy, change in activity..etc)

Personally, I'm aiming for an overweight BMI but I don't see how 17.5 is vastly different from 18 if you didn't have issues with it before. You also appear to be Asian, so a slightly underweight BMI is likely to be perfectly healthy and fine. I say go for it, but only you could decide if it's worth maintaining or not. As for the calories, if you are tall it should play to your advantage, and if you increase your activity you will get even more. Would that be enough for you? I have no idea, try and see. If it turns out to be too hard or too stressful you could always gain a few until it's no longer stressful.

Jeyradan

BMI is a starting point, not a universal law! Obviously, no one should be way off-track (i.e., it's unlikely anyone will be healthy at a BMI of 12 or something), but not everyone's frame size and body composition fits neatly into the 18-25 range. I, for instance, would be overweight at the top of the "healthy" range, but not underweight if I'm sitting a little below the bottom. (My ideal maintenance weight is a couple of pounds below the "BMI-directed" minimum, and I have run that by my doctor just to be absolutely sure.)

robininfl

I think this is OK - I am 5'9", medium framed but thin bones and if I am not muscled I hover around 120-125 when healthy and skinny, body types do differ, I look good that thin, doctor had no problem with it either. There is a bigger window as you get taller, I think. But I would suggest working out to gain some muscle if you can, holding more lean mass is healthy and having more mass as you get older is associated with better health outcomes. My grandma was skinny, lifelong naturally, and got so frail when old, I want to avoid that.

So yes I look and feel good at what's considered underweight but I look and feel good now at a "healthy" weight because I gained muscle; I feel this is healthier for the long term.

For now - If you are working out and eating healthy and feeling good and your body sits at the bottom of what's considered healthy BMI, that seems a good sign that it's a good weight for you, and it may settle back down to underweight naturally, but I'd not force it, would instead focus on exercise.

not_a_runner

For me personally, (5'0") to reach a BMI of 17, I would have to be under 90 lbs, which would be extremely unhealthy for me, and very unattainable.
At my lowest weight where I was what I felt to be a healthy weight for my frame at the time, I was over a 26 BMI.
Since then I have added a lot of muscle (and some fat), and my new goal weight would fall almost in the obese category...
Because of this I don't put much faith in the BMI standards. Unless I lose a significant amount of muscle, I will never be at what it says is a "healthy" weight for my height. Because BMI doesn't take body composition into it's measures, it doesn't tell the whole story. There's many athletes out there who have very low body fat %'s, yet BMI would classify them as overweight or obese.
I would suggest you go by how your weight feels for you personally, and don't worry so much about what BMI it would put you at.

Chef_Barbell

Why not just start a strength training program if you are looking for aesthetic changes? This sounds unhealthy and you probably still won't be happy with the results.

DancingMoosie

I agree with those who suggest strength training/weights. You can build some muscle instead of all the weight gain being fat. Also, you could aim for a recomp, lift weights while eating in maintenance. That way you can maintain the weight you are now, but burn off some fat. Better body composition might make you happier with a slightly higher weight.

ROBOTFOOD

Back in HS senior year, I was 5'10 118. But I never tried to loose weight. I didn't care for anything except video games, fast food and skate / snowboarding (still do) I'm also a distance runner now too.
My lil sister is the same too. She was 5'0 and 89lb. She is currently 5'2 and 108 at 20yo.


Me today at 6'0 and 148lb, would have to reach 125lb to hit 17.0bmi. Doable and sustainable? Yes. But difficult. Some elite distance runners have similar builds. If I ever attempted that, it would be a slow / multi year cut. I would have to sacrifice alot of muscle. And since I do not diet or track cals, I would increase my Week running mileage to 100-120mi / wk to get the deficit.

MelaniaTrump

Kids? Are you nibbling on their leftover chicken nuggets and mac and cheese? Weigh them and log them.

LisaKay91

I would like to be at a weight where my BMI is 17.5.
I will have a lot of loose skin so the weight really isn't all that small.

endlessfall16

Jeyradan wrote: »

BMI is a starting point, not a universal law! Obviously, no one should be way off-track (i.e., it's unlikely anyone will be healthy at a BMI of 12 or something), but not everyone's frame size and body composition fits neatly into the 18-25 range. I, for instance, would be overweight at the top of the "healthy" range, but not underweight if I'm sitting a little below the bottom. (My ideal maintenance weight is a couple of pounds below the "BMI-directed" minimum, and I have run that by my doctor just to be absolutely sure.)

That's very confusing!

Not everyone fits one number, but that's why there is a range, no?

And, you would be "overweight" (while in normal BMI) according to what standard? Just curious.

HealthyBodySickMind

In college, I never tried and seemed to naturally stay around an 18 bmi, sometimes a little under sometimes a little over.

I have found that after pregnancy (and weightlifting) I've been very happy at a 19 bmi.

mom23mangos

My BMI for most of my life was around 17.3 with no effort. Now it is 18 and a good place for me. I always thought that I would be ideal a few pounds of muscle heavier. I wouldn't mind putting on a few more pounds of muscle slowly. But, at 41 and after 2 kids, I think maintaining below 18 would be difficult as long as I have a sedentary job. If I had a more active job where I didn't snack all day, it might be more natural.

MakePeasNotWar

I honestly don't think I'd intentionally shoot for a weight outside the normal range, on either end. If you naturally settle at a BMI below 18.5 while eating healthfully and exercising, that's one thing, but to restrict down to a weight that comes with elevated health risks doesn't seem prudent, regardless of aesthetics.

I agree with the posters who recommended strength training. You'll look great, you'll still be in the healthy weight range, and you'll be able to maintain on a higher calorie intake. What's not to like?

Sued0nim

The BMI chart for Asians also starts at 18.5 it just puts overweight at 23 just to address a point made upthread

BMI is a population measure and shouldn't be used on a personal level, although a general assumption that it's a good healthy target area to aim for does suit by far the majority and there are fewer outliers then people seem to believe. Under 18.5 puts an individual at risk of developing nutritional deficiencies and osteoporosis

I would say that your body changes after childbirth and with age and rather than aim for a number to the extent you're playing with a couple of pounds for satisfaction, I would aim for a physical.

Get clearance from your medical team and do some progressive resistance work