pictures of women at the high end of their bmi

I don't think you can really go by BMI to gague what you will look like since it really depends on how lean you are. So many folks on here are in super athlete shape and 'overweight' or 'obese'. I think for an average person with low muscle mass (like me) - it is a good indicator. I am also a (curvy) 5'5" and started MFP at the top end of healthy at 146 lbs. At that weight I was in a size 6/8 pants but my face was puffy, my normally trim waist was flabby, my boobs went to a 36DD and my legs were chubby and my hips was getting wide. At at 20 BMI I am 125 lbs, a small size 4, my face has contours, my belly is flat, my boobs are a full 34C and my legs are medium size (I never have thin legs) and my hips loose that buldge. All that said, most people (boyfriend included) say I look good in that range of 125-146 (20-24 BMI) but I just like the way I fit in clothes at the lower end. Sorry no pics but hopefully that gives some perspective. Good luck.

THANK YOU! This is what I'm getting at. I don't have a ton of muscle therefore, I am not like those that are lifting heavy to build muscle and such. Again, thank you!

I believe you can look at my photos, not completely sure though. You can see my starting point in the blue sports bra. My BMI from that point until now is only -1 point on the BMI scale. Still puts in me on the high overweight section. Change in weight is only 5 pounds. This is why BMI is not a good scale to use.

Just to clarify, are you saying that discrediting BMI leads to women choosing to high of a goal weight? Like, If I'm 225 lbs to start, and I see that a woman can be healthy at 150 (even though the BMI is still "overweight") that I might choose 150 as my goal weight and that would be bad because I might still have considerable bodyfat to lose at 150?

I kind of think that's not what realistically happens. Rarely do I ever see someone on here who gets to their goal weight, still has fat to lose, and just decides that's good enough. Usually at that point the person will reassess if they need a second goal weight at that point. But, for the most part If I go from 225 to 150 that's a MAJOR beneficial change, and worrying about the difference between 130 and 150 is moot when you're at 225.

I see a whole lot of people like the women I quoted, who think a normal BMI is unreasonable or unachievable. A bunch of guys who have guts hanging out who think the same way. Discrediting BMI acts as support for the visual status quo - where "normal" has quite a lot of body fat.

I think bashing BMI acts as a deterrent/reinforcement to people who would benefit from losing weight, but may not be able to envision the weight loss.

I am 5'2 and currently somewhere between 150-152 I think. I am always considered overweight with my BMI. It's a terrible tool to use - body fat % is much better.

and you are a lean mean muscle machine, looking really good!

Just to clarify, are you saying that discrediting BMI leads to women choosing to high of a goal weight? Like, If I'm 225 lbs to start, and I see that a woman can be healthy at 150 (even though the BMI is still "overweight") that I might choose 150 as my goal weight and that would be bad because I might still have considerable bodyfat to lose at 150?

I kind of think that's not what realistically happens. Rarely do I ever see someone on here who gets to their goal weight, still has fat to lose, and just decides that's good enough. Usually at that point the person will reassess if they need a second goal weight at that point. But, for the most part If I go from 225 to 150 that's a MAJOR beneficial change, and worrying about the difference between 130 and 150 is moot when you're at 225.

I see a whole lot of people like the women I quoted, who think a normal BMI is unreasonable or unachievable. A bunch of guys who have guts hanging out who think the same way. Discrediting BMI acts as support for the visual status quo - where "normal" has quite a lot of body fat.

I think bashing BMI acts as a deterrent/reinforcement to people who would benefit from losing weight, but may not be able to envision the weight loss.

I get what you're saying. I disagree, but I see your point.

Just to clarify, are you saying that discrediting BMI leads to women choosing to high of a goal weight? Like, If I'm 225 lbs to start, and I see that a woman can be healthy at 150 (even though the BMI is still "overweight") that I might choose 150 as my goal weight and that would be bad because I might still have considerable bodyfat to lose at 150?

I kind of think that's not what realistically happens. Rarely do I ever see someone on here who gets to their goal weight, still has fat to lose, and just decides that's good enough. Usually at that point the person will reassess if they need a second goal weight at that point. But, for the most part If I go from 225 to 150 that's a MAJOR beneficial change, and worrying about the difference between 130 and 150 is moot when you're at 225.

I see a whole lot of people like the women I quoted, who think a normal BMI is unreasonable or unachievable. A bunch of guys who have guts hanging out who think the same way. Discrediting BMI acts as support for the visual status quo - where "normal" has quite a lot of body fat.

I think bashing BMI acts as a deterrent/reinforcement to people who would benefit from losing weight, but may not be able to envision the weight loss.

I agree that there are plenty of people out there (I've done it myself in the past) who rationalize being overweight.

But I think the bottom line is that if you don't want to change, you can come up with a million reasons not to change. It doesn't matter what a BMI chart says or what other people look like or anything else. We can get remarkably good at not looking at ourselves in the mirror and avoiding cameras and explaining why we CAN'T lose weight. Body dysmorphia works both ways though - and if you're constantly telling people who have big frames and a lot of muscle that they are "overweight", they see fat where there isn't any that should be lost.

The bottom line is that a BMI chart is based on averages. We're not all average. If I measure the width of my hip and shoulder bones alone - not circumference but width of my skeletal structure, I still wouldn't be able to fit my actual skeleton in a lot of small size women's clothes. Those little sizes are made for someone, but it's not me.

If you're looking at a BMI chart and wondering if you're being delusional or not, go talk to your doctor. Get an objective outside opinion from someone who will look at your overall health. Friends are more likely to tell you you look fine, a personal trainer or the like is going to want to sell you their services and tell you how they can transform you into a fitness model... but I think ultimately it comes down to health. Get your bodyfat checked, get an unbiased second opinion, something like that. Don't waste your time worrying about a BMI chart unless you feel your skeletal structure and musculature is actually average.

You know, reading through this thread, I suspect that a lot of people are looking at inaccurate BMI scales and many of them might actually BE at a healthy BMI and not realize it, like the woman above who thinks 140 is considered overweight BMI for 5'3". It isn't. It's the healthy range, though the high end of it.

So if you think the healthy range for BMI is 10 or 20 pounds below what it actually IS, you may think you can't get to a healthy BMI even though you're already there, in actuality.

Don't have a picture handy, but at my highest weight I was 5'5.5" and 150 lbs. That's right on the edge of being overweight, but I was technically still "normal." The issue was that my body fat % put me well into the "obese" category. I looked awful and felt extremely uncomfortable in my skin. A lot of women my height wouldn't have that issue at that weight because of more muscle mass and a different fat distribution. BMI really is not a good indicator of what you'll look like/if you're healthy at a certain weight, especially at the extreme ends.

ETA that if you really want to see a lot of photos, figure out the weight and height for the BMI you're interested in and search mybodygallery.com.

thanks for this^^ I just spent a few minutes looking at mybodygallery.com going from my current weight to goal and it's really opened my eyes...I haven't been at goal since I got married 18yrs ago! feeling motivated

If it helps you at all I'm considered obese by my bmi.

Me too sexy! BMI is a joke!
<-- obese I think not!

I agree BMI is not a good way to compare or figure progress. I am 5'5




First pic 207 lbs - BMI of 34.4
Second pic - 180.2 BMI 30

Pics are from February to June 2nd

I go by measurements - scale and number one tool...PICTURES

<--- BMI of 27.6 but body fat of 23.4% measured by bodypod

I'm 5'5 also. I'm 155 lbs. Profile picture is my most recent one. I'm 5 lbs overweight still according to BMI. But i'm right in the middle of healthy on body fat charts.

Anyone else? These are helpful to those of us who carry more muscle and still considered overweight

I don't have photos, but I can tell you my hubby was considered obese on the BMI chart when he was in the Marines. He had to have the water body fat test to prove he wasn't....he had 11% body fat.

I would also like to add, I got sick when I was about 20 and lost a ton of weight. I was down to 120lbs (BMI 19.4.. "normal") and in a size 3 or 5 pants.. Everyone I knew was asking if I was anorexic, and if I was eating right because I was skin and bones. Anything below 130lbs for me would make me look sickly. Even between 130-140, I was told I looked "too thin." So I think for me, a "normal" weight would be between 140-160lbs, and according to BMI, I'd be overweight, or the very high end of "normal"

I'm almost 5'3" , small framed, 124 lbs. , and a size 2 in my profile pic. According to BMI, I'm at 22, or right in the middle of the healthy BMI range. I'd say that's pretty accurate.