Am I overweight?

trekkiebeth
trekkiebeth Posts: 172
edited September 22 in Health and Weight Loss
BMI calculators tell me I'm overweight and I'm sure I must be overweight, but my boyfriend says he thinks I look really good and he doesn't think I look overweight. He has normal taste in looks and doesn't prefer overweight women or anything.

Do I look overweight? I'm about 5'4 and 148 pounds.

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Replies

  • brooke0206
    brooke0206 Posts: 255 Member
    BMI i just a number. I feel like it isnt a good judge of if you are over weight or not. If YOU are happy where you are then that is all that matters. Personally I dont think you look over weight but in the end it truly is your decision!
  • LOVEsummer
    LOVEsummer Posts: 304 Member
    Tricky question. BMI is just a general estimate... If you think you are healthy where you are at see a doctor and have things like your cholesterol and body fat tested. Weight and BMI can be misleading. There are other indicators of health and it may be something you want to look into.

    Best of luck!
  • Davis713
    Davis713 Posts: 124 Member
    You look great to me! I wish I could look that good! I think the BMI thing is crazy! WE are not all made to weigh 110 lbs!
  • kewkdb
    kewkdb Posts: 207 Member
    BMI calculators tell me I'm overweight and I'm sure I must be overweight, but my boyfriend says he thinks I look really good and he doesn't think I look overweight. He has normal taste in looks and doesn't prefer overweight women or anything.

    Do I look overweight? I'm about 5'4 and 148 pounds.

    Your BF is not going to tell you the truth. Unless the truth is the truth. Yes, you are over weight. The real question is: are you happy with the way you look and feel?
  • mrmarius
    mrmarius Posts: 1,802 Member
    you look good to me, if you're happy and he obviously is then i wouldnt sweat it, just make sure you're healthy
  • If you're overweight, I'd like to know where you're hiding it! From the pictures, you look very nice and look like you're at a healthy weight.

    The best way to measure is to take out those old-fashioned fat pincers and measure that way. That measures the fat that's sitting on top of the muscle and the actual percentage.
  • elmct57
    elmct57 Posts: 594 Member
    this is a choice you have to make--the BMI is not "dead on" unless done officially and i'm not paying that kind of fee<G>

    lovely pics and no you don't seem abbynormal...but your perception is the important one here. Nothing wrong with trying to eat healthy and exercise at whatever weight you are--that's why i love the diversity of this site!
  • plainjoe81
    plainjoe81 Posts: 53 Member
    In your bottom picture I can see a little of your left earlobe that you've been trying to keep hidden under your hair, and dearie I am sorry but it DOES look a little flabby. Don't take offense, I mean that only in a constructive way. With myfitnesspal you'll be flaunting your earrings again in no time! ;-)
  • Egger29
    Egger29 Posts: 14,741 Member
    Hey there!

    Body Mass Index (BMI) is often inaccurate in certain people as it's based off a simple equation for everyone.

    What it doesn't take into account, is body composition in each individual.

    As a result, those individuals with more lean mass do not fit into the BMI scale and will get results that are not typical for their body measurements.

    From what I can see in your pictures, you're an average frame woman who likely has a high muscle content. This lean mass is denser and weighs more than body fat and will give you a skewed result (in terms of BMI).

    I personally am an athletic male with a high %age of lean mass. For my own height and weight, I get a BMI of 28, which is on the highly obese scale. Obviously as an athlete I don't consider myself obese in any sense.

    I've trained female athletes however, one in particular who was a speed skater. She had very muscular legs obviously an asset to her sport, but her BMI was 27...again in the obese range, but in no way was she out of shape by any means.

    For yourself, I would suggest finding a place where you can get a body comp test done, and go on that measurement more than BMI.

    It's the fashion world and media that tells us we have to look a certain way, but not everyone is built the same.

    All the best to you!
  • BMI calculators tell me I'm overweight and I'm sure I must be overweight, but my boyfriend says he thinks I look really good and he doesn't think I look overweight. He has normal taste in looks and doesn't prefer overweight women or anything.

    Do I look overweight? I'm about 5'4 and 148 pounds.

    Your BF is not going to tell you the truth. Unless the truth is the truth. Yes, you are over weight. The real question is: are you happy with the way you look and feel?

    Um OK...her BF is not telling the truth?! Maybe I read that wrong, but it seems an odd thing to say, lol. He said that she looks good and does not look overweight!

    As to the OP I agree with others. Do you like the way that you look and are you satisfied with your level of fitness? If the answer to one or both of those questions is "no" then maybe make a road map to help you address those concerns.
  • By the way, I googled up a BMI calculator and calculated it out. You're at 25.5 BMI. If you lost just 8lbs, you'd be at 24.1 which is Healthy.

    The word "overweight" seems to mean the same as "obese" or "morbidly obese", at least these days.

    Oh and 24.9 is also in the Healthy range. You'd only need to lose 3lbs to be in that section. :)
  • I think you are beautiful and look good. However, the above comments are correct - being healthy is what is important. How you feel when you look in the mirror is a mental battle that I myself struggle with. If being healthy is important to you than I would get in the healthy weight range however, do it for health reasons, do it for yourself don't do it simply to look good - because I think you do look good : )
  • deagn5
    deagn5 Posts: 19 Member
    i think the bmi is a very poor way of measuring peoples weight index. i recently got a report of my 2 sons height and weight, now i expected it on one of them, although i would not call him obese (he is according to the bmi), but he could tend to loose a few pounds. but my other son, who's ribs you can see when he takes his shirt off, was also labeled as obese. i think this is very harmful in the big scheme of things. these kids are going to grow up with more emotional/eating disorders. we need to teach our kids a healthy way of eating, tell them that they can of the sweet stuff as well,but only in moderation and of course exercise has to be apart of it as well. if you feel comfortable in your body and you are in relatively good health, you have to live with you, and you have to be happy! whatever my bmi is i know i don't feel comfortable in my body and that is why i am doing this site. remember the bmi is just a guideline, a poor one at that, take it with a "grain of salt"
  • kewkdb
    kewkdb Posts: 207 Member


    Um OK...her BF is not telling the truth?! Maybe I read that wrong, but it seems an odd thing to say, lol. He said that she looks good and does not look overweight!

    No, you read that correct. No boyfriend is going to tell his girlfriend she is overweight. That is setting himself up for disaster. Does he think she looks good? Absolutely. Does he think she looks over weight? You will never know. However, judging from her photo and height/weight, yes she is over weight. Is she obese? Absolutely not. Hence, that said it is up to her on how she feels about the way she looks and feels.

    Come on people there is no need to candy coat it here. She has her boyfriend for that. We are all here on this site to lose weight and/or get fit. We should at least be able to tell each other the honest truth.
  • geez this guy ^^^^ haha. You really do look good and if your healthy and happy with the way your body is then your set.
  • potluck965
    potluck965 Posts: 529 Member
    Okay, this is just my take but I'm thinking you must feel that you are overweight or you would not be looking into this.

    I agree that a BF is going to be very reluctant to say anything about weight to a GF. It's like a loaded question, damned if you do, damned if you don't. It's a no win situation for him.

    That being said, from the pics it looks like he might be a little overweight himself. If that's the case he may also be concerned that if you lose weight he won't look so good and it will mean more work for him.

    Just a guess.
  • kewkdb
    kewkdb Posts: 207 Member

    That being said, from the pics it looks like he might be a little overweight himself. If that's the case he may also be concerned that if you lose weight he won't look so good and it will mean more work for him.

    Just a guess.

    That is a very good point. :drinker:
  • Thanks for the replies! I've already decided that I definitely want to lose weight. I want to get down to 130 pounds. I was really close to that a little over a year ago, but I gained a bunch of weight after I got together with my boyfriend.

    The reason I'm asking if I look overweight is that I get really depressed about my looks and I'm pretty sure I have body dysmorphic disorder. I feel not just overweight but I often feel gross and unattractive. My boyfriend says that I don't have a realistic view of my own looks, so I thought I should get some more opinions.

    My boyfriend has never lied to me and we have had very serious conversations about this issue and I believe him when he says he would tell me if he honestly thought I looked overweight. I admitted that even though I enjoy his body I know he's overweight because it's just obvious that it's true. There's no point lying about it. I believe he would do the same for me.

    potluck965: Like I said we have had serious conversations about our weight and I know that's not what he's doing.

    I'm not saying I don't think I'm overweight. I'm just saying I believe that my boyfriend is being honest with me. I do want to lose weight. I'm just trying to figure out how accurate my own perception of my body is by asking other people if they think I look overweight.
  • lloydrt
    lloydrt Posts: 1,121 Member
    well ladies, just FYI, no man in his right mind would ever tell a woman that she is overweight when asked, lol.....


    or the question "

    "Honey, does this dress make me look fat" ?

    well, we have 2 options

    "No dear, it looks wonderful on you"

    or

    "Um dear, the dress doesnt make you look fat, its the fat that makes you look fat"

    Now which answer do you think any rational man is going to say............lol, But the O P looks fine to me, but then Im a man, so how else would I reply..............Best Wishes, ..........Lloyd
  • Trust me, the boyfriend loves you, wants to be with you, thinks you look great, etc etc. BUT come on, what guy would mind if you lost a few pounds? The girlfriend says the same to me, of you look great, you don't need to workout, etc etc. But I know I will be happier if I do, and she will be also.

    Second, BMI is crap for most people. Although it is very tough, try to get you're body fat percentage measured. That is the really number you need. You'll be surprised.

    Third, you are probably 'skinny fat'. You do NOT look big. However you're body fat percentage is probably above 30% (just a guess of course). I used to weigh 159 but now at 193, I have a lower body fat percentage and I look better.

    Fourth, you don't lose weight for anyone besides yourself. If you are happy that is all that matters. And if you try to do it anyway, you just set yourself up for failure. You have to be fed up with the way you look, you have to WANT to be healthier. If you are asking other if you need to lose weight, that is not the place to look. You need to look deep inside you're heart and say what do I want to do?

    Do I want to be healthy? Do I want to make a lifestyle change? Do I want to give UP going out for desert with the boyfriend? Because those are all questions that will need to be addressed. It always come down to.. HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?
  • I do not think that you look overweight. Then again you are not naked in the pics lol and clothes can hide alot. I think you look great so you need to do what you want for yourself and no one else =)


    and FYI... when I asked my fiance if he thought I should loose some weight he said.. "yea you could loose some pounds, but only if you want too. I think you are beautiful just the way you are no matter what." And when I ask him how I look in certain outfit and its not a positive answer.. I take that as constructive criticizm and find something else. This has happened with two outfits so far and when I put them on again after I lost some weight.. his reaction was priceless =)

    I respected his opinion and am thankfull that he can be honest with me.

    All men should learn to be brutally honest with their women..no matter what.
  • I do not think that you look overweight. Then again you are not naked in the pics lol and clothes can hide alot. I think you look great so you need to do what you want for yourself and no one else =)


    and FYI... when I asked my fiance if he thought I should loose some weight he said.. "yea you could loose some pounds, but only if you want too. I think you are beautiful just the way you are no matter what." And when I ask him how I look in certain outfit and its not a positive answer.. I take that as constructive criticizm and find something else. This has happened with two outfits so far and when I put them on again after I lost some weight.. his reaction was priceless =)

    I respected his opinion and am thankfull that he can be honest with me.

    All men should learn to be brutally honest with their women..no matter what.

    Come on, we would surely get in trouble for that!
  • TateFTW
    TateFTW Posts: 658 Member
    You look like your healthy, but you could definitely drop a few pounds and still be healthy. If you want to drop a few, then go for it. Some people tell me I'm crazy when I say I'm cutting fat, but I'm no where close to where I really want to be (6-pack abs, <10% body fat). Just because you aren't really overweight by most standards doesn't mean you can't drop some lbs if you decide it's worth it for both the health and aesthetic benefits. The worries only come when you have an unrealistic, unhealthy view of yourself. That's the red flag we look for when suggesting people don't lose weight.

    I agree with what the guys are saying too. I love my wife, and she looks amazing. That being said, if she drops a few more lbs (literally just a few, any more than that would be too much), then that would be great too. If she were to ask me if, in my opinion, she should lose weight, I would say that she should only do it if it's what she wants, because she doesn't need to change herself for me.
  • bmmadden
    bmmadden Posts: 499 Member
    Well Im about 5'4inches and I would love to be your size-you look great- although like you my ultimate goal is 130 and I have a long journey ahead, and whether your BF is honest about his answer or not I think like you said and the others is how you feel about yourself-so good luck!
  • Hi there,
    I think you are quite similar to myself. I am 5ft 5 and started off on this site at 140lbs.

    You look good in your pictures but clothes can be deceiving. Some outfits make me look slim but when I am infront of the mirror in my underwear I don't look as good and I noticed my fatty areas (for me its my tummy).

    I have been with my boyfriend for 6 years and although he is honest with me, he is reluctant to say I'm fat when I ask him! I ask him alot for his opinion of what I'm wearing and I can now tell by his reaction of what he's really thinking - if it's really nice I know I look good, but if it's just ok I know I need to change!

    When you don't have too much to lose, a small amount of weight loss can make all the difference. I have lost 4 lbs so far and feel alot better in myself. I too want to get down to around 130lbs. However, not having much to lose means it's harder for those lbs to come off so don't be dis-heartened if it's taking a while. With careful eating and a little exercise, you'll start seeing results.

    Alot of people tell me I don't look like I need to lose weight (as most people above have said to you) but for me I want to look better and feel better about myself. Good luck!!
  • All men should learn to be brutally honest with their women..no matter what.

    You're a minority in this respect. In my experience, most women don't really feel that way, and many men learn to avoid that at all costs after a few nights on the couch.
  • spicy618
    spicy618 Posts: 2,114 Member
    In your bottom picture I can see a little of your left earlobe that you've been trying to keep hidden under your hair, and dearie I am sorry but it DOES look a little flabby. Don't take offense, I mean that only in a constructive way. With myfitnesspal you'll be flaunting your earrings again in no time! ;-)

    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

    You should be a comedian :flowerforyou:
  • I think its kinda funny that some ladies are talking as if they would be good with the men in there life telling you, your chunky or look bad or whatever. Just a note for my hubby (I hope you see this when you log on) DONT FALL FOR THAT!!! You may never say that to me without making me upset. Im not blind I know where my fat is, I know I look what I weigh because fat dont hide. I know what still jiggles so lets focus on the good stuff. K thanks

    Oh and I admire the people who do get on this site and are honest. I didnt come to this site for someone to tell me what I want to hear. Its easier getting the truth from someone you dont know.

    HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member


    Um OK...her BF is not telling the truth?! Maybe I read that wrong, but it seems an odd thing to say, lol. He said that she looks good and does not look overweight!

    No, you read that correct. No boyfriend is going to tell his girlfriend she is overweight. That is setting himself up for disaster. Does he think she looks good? Absolutely. Does he think she looks over weight? You will never know. However, judging from her photo and height/weight, yes she is over weight. Is she obese? Absolutely not. Hence, that said it is up to her on how she feels about the way she looks and feels.

    Come on people there is no need to candy coat it here. She has her boyfriend for that. We are all here on this site to lose weight and/or get fit. We should at least be able to tell each other the honest truth.

    I agree with you man!! People on these sites now days are so thin-skinned that everything a person says is offensive to others.

    You are right - we are here to get fit and lose weight.

    I think she is a bit overweight, no need to really "lose weight", but some exercise to tone up will make the Original Poster look smaller and she will be fit - which to me is the epitome of looking and feeling healthy.
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
    well ladies, just FYI, no man in his right mind would ever tell a woman that she is overweight when asked, lol.....


    or the question "

    "Honey, does this dress make me look fat" ?

    well, we have 2 options

    "No dear, it looks wonderful on you"

    or

    "Um dear, the dress doesnt make you look fat, its the fat that makes you look fat"

    Now which answer do you think any rational man is going to say............lol, But the O P looks fine to me, but then Im a man, so how else would I reply..............Best Wishes, ..........Lloyd

    Well, you know, my husband is brutally honest with me. If I ask, then he will state his opinion. I have often asked him how something looked on me.

    If you ask - then you should be prepared to hear the truth, not some sugar-coated message out of obligation. Sheesh people.

    My husband has told me on numerous occasions when I asked that something did not look good on me at the size I am.
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