Can yo be underweight before you have an underweight BMI?

ivyjbres

I pulled this next section from the wikipedia page on BMI. Its from a long section describing how and why BMI is inaccurate, but I think these two might be the two biggest reasons for you specifically to ignore the BMI.

"BMI is particularly inaccurate for younger people (especially males) who are quite fit or athletic, as the higher muscle mass tends to put them in the "overweight" category by BMI, even though their body fat percentages frequently fall in the 10-15% category, which is below that of a more sedentary person of average build who has a "healthy" BMI number. Body composition for athletes is often better calculated using measures of body fat, as determined by such techniques as skinfold measurements or underwater weighing and the limitations of manual measurement have also led to new, alternative methods to measure obesity, such as the body volume index. However, recent studies of American football linemen who undergo intensive weight training to increase their muscle mass show that they frequently suffer many of the same problems as people ordinarily considered obese, notably sleep apnea.[25][26]

BMI also does not account for body frame size; A person may have a small frame and be carrying too much excess fat, but their BMI reflects that they are "healthy". Conversely, a large framed individual may be quite healthy with a fairly low body fat percentage, but be classified as "overweight" by BMI. Accurate frame size calculators use several measurements (wrist circumference, elbow width, neck circumference and others) to determine what category an individual falls into for a given height. The standard is to use frame size in conjunction with ideal height/weight charts and add roughly 10% for a large frame or subtract roughly 10% for a smaller frame. For example, a chart may say the ideal weight for a man 5'10" (178 cm) is 165 pounds (75 kg). But if that man has a slender build (small frame), he may be overweight at 165 pounds (78 kg) and should reduce by 10%, to roughly 150 pounds (68kg). In the reverse, the man with a larger frame and more solid build can be quite healthy at 180 pounds (82 kg). If one teeters on the edge of small/medium or medium/large, a dose of common sense should be used in calculating their ideal weight. However, falling into your ideal weight range for height and build is still not as accurate in determining health risk factors as waist/height ratio and actual body fat percentage."

I've self harmed too, and still do from time to time, but not often anymore... And frankly, when you think about it, it does much less harm to your body than continuing with an ED, if you're really choosing between the two. The thing is, most people really don't understand it, so it weirds them out more than an ED does, because they can't identify with it. It seems worse, just because from outside of the situation, a person can't understand it. But if you're genuinely trying to loose weight just to keep from cutting yourself... You'll do more harm in the long run.

tigersword

If I were to get down to a BMI that wasn't considered overweight, I'd need to drop to 0% body fat (which is impossible, as it would kill me) and then lose over 20 pounds of muscle on top of that. In short, BMI is a joke. What's your body fat percentage? That's what you should be looking at. Professional athletes have a body fat percentage of between 5% and 13%. I'm aiming for about 8%. At 8% body fat I'd have a BMI of around 27. And then after adding on muscle, my BMI would be orotund 33, technically obese.

So yeah, BMI is a joke, and I'd say you're good where you are. Pay attention to your body fat percentage. 24% body fat is average, 17% is fit, and under 13% is athletic, but anything under 5% is getting dangerous, as it's bare essential.

i have no idea what my body fat % is.. how do u work it out??

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator/

This site offers a decent formula for it.

megz4987

also my 'inspirations' contribute to my low self esteem

The bullies that beat me up for being fat
All my friends are skinnier than me..

used to get majorly bullied and beat up and spat on... everything...

problems at home.. and i know everyone has problems at home...

but i'm one of the people that is scarred deeply from it....

got post traumatic stress disorder...

but yeah...

my focus on losing weight.. stops me from self harming...

but also makes me feel good that i'm losing weight...

Puttng yourself at a weight that is conciderd underweight, you are self harming. I know you know that... You don't seem like a dumb person. You need to care a little more about yourself an a lot less about the past. Work forward and don't look back.

I also just wanted to add that people don't pick on another person BECAUSE They're fat... they have their own problems and that's the way they release. I was also teased and picked on when I was younger. I had lollipops thrown in my hair, this same group of kids taunting me all the way home from school, "pee" (it was in an apple juice bottle, didn't hit me so I don't really care, ha) thrown at me, etc. Kids are brutally mean sometimes and it has nothing to do with you as a person or what you look like. They're just as self concious as you are, they have problems at home, they're unhappy, etc. You ARE accepted by society, whether you recognize it or not, the only person that seems to not accept you is yourself. I hope you get there soon!

i just move from one self harm to the next...

i've been obese, i cut regularly... i am bulimic... and now to stop the other forms of self harm... want to be underweight...

it's impulsive and makes me feel good.... but yeah... i'm glad i signed up to MFP... lots of people here have their heads screwed on.... =] and offer some great advice

I've been there. I've been a binge eater, bulimic, anorexic, over exerciser, abuse diet pills, lax's, diuretics, You name an eating disorder, Ive had it for the last 6 years. I understand how your mind is working right now. While its very disheartening that I personally can't do anything for you, I'm glad you're aware you need the help and you're seeking it

yeah i know what you mean... i have friends that have ED's and i can't really help them with the way i behave...

i was just about to buy Alli tablets as well.........

man/... i should be getting help soon....

and last year my UG used to be 10 stone,... and i passed that last month...and went up again... but finally passed it today...

9 stone is my ultimate ultimate goal..

Alli, in my experiences, just teaches you how to eat healthy... anything with grease and fat, it makes you poop.... it warns anal leakage, it's not kidding.

JWGF01

I pulled this next section from the wikipedia page on BMI. Its from a long section describing how and why BMI is inaccurate, but I think these two might be the two biggest reasons for you specifically to ignore the BMI.

"BMI is particularly inaccurate for younger people (especially males) who are quite fit or athletic, as the higher muscle mass tends to put them in the "overweight" category by BMI, even though their body fat percentages frequently fall in the 10-15% category, which is below that of a more sedentary person of average build who has a "healthy" BMI number. Body composition for athletes is often better calculated using measures of body fat, as determined by such techniques as skinfold measurements or underwater weighing and the limitations of manual measurement have also led to new, alternative methods to measure obesity, such as the body volume index. However, recent studies of American football linemen who undergo intensive weight training to increase their muscle mass show that they frequently suffer many of the same problems as people ordinarily considered obese, notably sleep apnea.[25][26]

BMI also does not account for body frame size; A person may have a small frame and be carrying too much excess fat, but their BMI reflects that they are "healthy". Conversely, a large framed individual may be quite healthy with a fairly low body fat percentage, but be classified as "overweight" by BMI. Accurate frame size calculators use several measurements (wrist circumference, elbow width, neck circumference and others) to determine what category an individual falls into for a given height. The standard is to use frame size in conjunction with ideal height/weight charts and add roughly 10% for a large frame or subtract roughly 10% for a smaller frame. For example, a chart may say the ideal weight for a man 5'10" (178 cm) is 165 pounds (75 kg). But if that man has a slender build (small frame), he may be overweight at 165 pounds (78 kg) and should reduce by 10%, to roughly 150 pounds (68kg). In the reverse, the man with a larger frame and more solid build can be quite healthy at 180 pounds (82 kg). If one teeters on the edge of small/medium or medium/large, a dose of common sense should be used in calculating their ideal weight. However, falling into your ideal weight range for height and build is still not as accurate in determining health risk factors as waist/height ratio and actual body fat percentage."

I've self harmed too, and still do from time to time, but not often anymore... And frankly, when you think about it, it does much less harm to your body than continuing with an ED, if you're really choosing between the two. The thing is, most people really don't understand it, so it weirds them out more than an ED does, because they can't identify with it. It seems worse, just because from outside of the situation, a person can't understand it. But if you're genuinely trying to loose weight just to keep from cutting yourself... You'll do more harm in the long run.

thanks for that.. according to the part about slender frames... if i theoretically subtracted 10% from my weight... id be arund 54kg... which would put me at quite underweight....

hmm

JWGF01

and according to the body fat calulator....

my body fat percentage is 9.98% body fat...

if i was 55KG then my body fat % would be significantly smaller....

hmm..

tigersword

9.98% is lower than many professional athletes. That's pretty much right on the bullseye.

erickirb

and according to the body fat calulator....

my body fat percentage is 9.98% body fat...

if i was 55KG then my body fat % would be significantly smaller....

hmm..

Not necessarily lower, when you don't have much to lose, and you lose weight you lose muscle as well, so their is a chance that if you lost weight that you may lose more muscle than fat and actually increase you BF% while decreasing your weight.

JWGF01

true... but yeah.... it went right over my head...

so reaally all the facts are telling me i'm 'ok'

but i still need to lose weight....

i know it's bad... but compared to my friends and people i know... i'm not skinny enough.... =[

DaniiWanii

true... but yeah.... it went right over my head...

so reaally all the facts are telling me i'm 'ok'

but i still need to lose weight....

i know it's bad... but compared to my friends and people i know... i'm not skinny enough.... =[

Seriously... who are you living for yourself or others??? F*** everyone else!!!! Be happy and healthy you look 100milliontrillion% fine... great even just focus on staying healthy

JWGF01

ha.. lol... i most of the time i feel that i am living for others...

yeah.... i pan on 'staying healthy' when i reach my goal.....

but as everyone has pointed out.. my 'goal' isn't a good idea... =[

man.... guess thats what everyone is here for... keeping each other straight...

thanks anyway.. =]