How skinny is too skinny?

frosty73

It seems everyone who has lost weight has had someone tell them "You're getting too skinny" or "Don't lose any more weight." I have seen some women who look downright anorexic, in my opinion. So my question is, how skinny is too skinny?

anybeary

My thoughts on this are that what you should be trying to acheive is a healthy body mass index number for your age and height. If you're within a healthy range and YOU like the way you look, that's what really matters. My boyfriend is always saying things like, "I love you the way you are!" and "I'd love you if you were 400 pounds!". That's sweet, babe, but I sure wouldn't love me! Ha! And looking in the mirror, I feel like I need to lose 20 more pounds, but fortunately, that puts me at an ideal BMI.

kayleesays

When I can see all of your bones through your skin because there's no muscle over them.

skywa

when you reach the point of being unhealthy.

if your a woman, and you've lost your period and your skin/hair is drying out. you have an issue. xP

i think different weights and body types are healthy on different ppl. so i think that as long as your healthy and feel good it shouldnt matter. but the things i mentioned above are signs your body fat is too low. >~<

SergeantSunshine_reused

When you are having health problems from being underweight. Otherwise I think it is no ones business

Natihilator

I think being too skinny could also be how you feel, and not look. Weak and tired, irritable, always hungry, on top of being at a very low weight? Too skinny.

shaydon80

I get this all the time and it pisses me off! I've lost 80lbs in the last 14 months in a healthy way and I want to lose a few more pounds for me. As it stands I'm within the healthy range on the BMI but JUST barely! How can that possibly be too skinny? it's pretty annoying. My goal from the get go was to be healthy. I am but I'd like to be able to step on any scale wearing anything at any time of day and still be within the healthy range on the BMI for my age and MY height. Is it really any of anyone else's business?

jadedone

I think too skinny:

More bones, less muscle
You don't feel healthy and energetic
Your skin seems dull and sallow

saragato

When I can see all of your bones through your skin because there's no muscle over them.

Basically this. When you've lost so much muscle mass and anything that could hide the shape of your actual bones through your sallow skin, then you've become too skinny. When your hair and teeth are falling out, you can barely move, and your internal organs are bordering on complete shut down, you're too skinny.

I've seen women who are alarmingly (to me) thin and they have a clean bill of health. Some people are naturally that thin or can maintain the weight and be healthy, but often times the ones that start to look like they've wasted away are the ones who are addicted to drugs, maybe they live on the street, or have an extreme case of an ED. And those are the women that are too skinny.

BigDaddyBRC

When you are having health problems from being underweight. Otherwise I think it is no ones business

Agreed

radscorpion

When you are having health problems from being underweight. Otherwise I think it is no ones business

Totally agree with this.

HeidiMightyRawr

When you become unhealthy. The main indicators of what I think would be "too skinny" is bones protruding and periods stopping in women.

warmachinejt

when my arms aren't 16 inches

Bentley2718

When you've lost so much muscle mass and anything that could hide the shape of your actual bones through your sallow skin, then you've become too skinny. When your hair and teeth are falling out, you can barely move, and your internal organs are bordering on complete shut down, you're too skinny.

If you've gotten to this point, you've probably been underweight for a while, or else very actively starving yourself. I'd say you hit unhealthy (and hence too skinny) well before your teeth start falling out and your organs start shutting down. That said, the healthy BMI range for most people is pretty broad, I'm 5'7, and my "healthy weight range" is something like 118-158, that's a 40 pound range--in other words, there is a lot of leeway. There are also individual factors, at one point, I wasn't nearly underweight based on my BMI, but to get to that point I basically had to starve myself and do a ton of cardio, that was not healthy, even if my teeth weren't falling out. I'd say if you're able to eat a healthy diet, feel good, and your doctor is okay with where you're at, you're probably doing okay.

lunalulu2

This is an interesting topic for me. I have lost 80lbs and I often have people tell me I am too thin. It has made me wonder if I am actually too thin. It is difficult because I do not see thin when I look in the mirror. You can see some of my bones but you can also see my muscles.

I will say that I think part of it is people get used to seeing you heavy so after dramatic weight loss it is hard for them to adjust to you being smaller.

I try to remind myself that I eat upwards of 2300 calories per day and feel good so its not like I am withering away but it does get annoying hearing people saying "you are too skinny" over and over.

SergeantSunshine_reused

I will say that I think part of it is people get used to seeing you heavy so after dramatic weight loss it is hard for them to adjust to you being smaller.

Certainly agree with this. I eat about 1800 calories a day with no cardio to lose, and I have been accused of starving myself.

dmpizza

Your butt always hurts when you sit down.

LorinaLynn

If you need to eat in an unhealthy manner to get and stay that way.

Someone can be technically a normal weight, but if they need to eat at near starvation levels to stay at that weight, it's not a healthy weight for them as an individual.

lunalulu2

If you need to eat in an unhealthy manner to get and stay that way.

Someone can be technically a normal weight, but if they need to eat at near starvation levels to stay at that weight, it's not a healthy weight for them as an individual.

Do you think this also applies the other way? If I am eating 2300+ calories per day with 1-1.5hours of exercise (mixture of strength and cardio) and maintaining that my weight is probably not too low?

Kebby83

I've had people call me skinny lately. XD
Very happy with that (I'm not skinny - I am 169lb and 5foot5 and have flabby mommy tummy like you wouldn't believe) because they saw me before I lost this weight and they are telling me in a way that they understand that I'm lookin' good.

I say people should lose what they feel comfortable losing. I mean - unless you are anorexic or obsessed you will be ok.

iuew

people who knew me as obese sometimes make comments. however, my BMI is 22, and that's well within normal.

msbellzee

I used to think you could never be too skinny, but now I'm in my 40's I really feel women over a certain age just don't look good really skinny.

In general, I think as long as one is healthy and happy with how they look and feel other people have no right to comment.

ErnestinesMom

Bethanny Frankel is an example of too skinny. Shoot for a healthy fit body...Jillian comes to mind.

kylesmommy89

People are starting to tell me that all the time now...SO ANNOYING. I do look pretty skinny in my clothes because most of my tops are flowy/baggy or because I was hiding my gut before I lost my weight and now they swallow me a little, but in fitted clothes or naked I don't think I look too skinny.

obsidianwings

Hard to say, of course can't put a weight limit or BMI on it due to different builds, muscle mass, height etc. But yeah I think when its actually causing health problems is when its an issue.

misskerouac

A lady asked me at work last week how much i've lost, i said 13 lbs. She asked how much more I wanted to lose and I said 22. She was like "Oh no! Where is it going to come from, that's far too much" I felt like yelling "LOOK LADY, I've been 150 lbs before, and it's fine, it's healthy, it's in the midrange of where i should be for my height!!!" I'm still in the overweight category right now.

But I couldn't yell at her, because she's the manager

juliesummers

When you are having health problems from being underweight. Otherwise I think it is no ones business

Agreed

I agree that severe health issues are the marker of too "skinny" -- although really, health problems are just a marker of not eating properly and that's not necessarily related to her weight at all. You can be super skinny and be perfectly healthy, active, and nourished, and I don't think that's a problem at all.

Also, in my opinion, unless you're the person's loved one/family member, it's not your business at all even if they are unhealthy.

jennapony

There's a woman in my gym who is probably about 5'10" and weighs (maybe) 100 pounds
I thought at first she might be seriously ill because that's how thin she is; after looking at her though she obviously tans and runs for over an hour everytime I see her
I think that is too thin; my first thought when I saw her was that she was deathly ill.
I want to ask her if she is trying to lose weight because it looks like she is, but it's not my place to judge I guess

LovesGG

I feel like I'm too skinny. I'm borderline underweight on the BMI chart and just feel unhealthy in general (trust me you'll know it doesn't feel right). I think my health will improve when I'm closer to the middle of my "acceptable" range. Ribs are also not a good sign. You need some fat on you to help protect your organs and all that scientific stuff.

Fourmenandalady28

This very topic crossed my mind recently and I would say too skinny is when it becomes a health issue other than that, people should, in my opinion, mind their own business. It's kind of weird to me that ppl will tell you when you are "too small" but no one tells you when you are too big smh ppl! Thx for posting this topic It's nice to know I wasn't alone on this one

amuchison

People say this because they r used to seeing u bigger they can't fathom that u would be anything but so when u r its like OMG now don't get too small...but ironically no one was telling me don't get too big..so I am 5'7.5 my goal is to get to 150 which is in my healthy BMI range and toned and if I am comfortable with how my body looks I will stop and maintain if not ill keep going but ain't go below my lowest BMI #;)