Has bmi range changed?
Replies
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I have maintained a BMI of around 19 for several years now, I agree with a PP that mentioned a recomp though. My body looks so different now that I am more serious about my weight training, even though my BMI is essentially the same it's always been. When I was just focused on cardio I dropped down to around 18.5 (120 pounds) and could tell I shouldn't keep losing but also was unhappy with my belly. Now I've put on about 5 lbs and am seeing a good deal of ab & arm definition. A good recomp can do wonders if you're looking for a certain aesthetic.13
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collectingblues wrote: »I always thought a healthy bmi ranged from 20-25 but now lots of websites (nhs included) seem to be saying 18.5-25 is ok.
Can I check other peoples understanding of this?
I’m currently 20.8 and thought I would have to maintain at 20 but if this is the case maybe I can go lower and still be a healthy weight?
It may be worth exploring why your goal is to go to the absolute bottom of the range. Is there a reason you want to go to a weight that's generally recommended only for shorter and petite women, or Asian women, when you're neither short nor petite?
In general, I think the very lowest "healthy" BMI is probably not healthy for people of above average height. But there is a lot of stuff to take into consideration that we can't see. Have you had a check up lately? Maybe before you lose more weight, get one and tell your doctor that you'd like to lose a few more lbs, and see what they have to say.
I'd also second the suggestion to consider recomp, you might be able to get the "look" you want at a more moderate weight.
Seeing some of the other posts, I'd like to add that OP asked if a lower weight would be "healthy". Obviously she's free to aim for a lower weight than we would consider, or to chase an aesthetic that isn't necessarily healthy if she chooses. But I don't think it's out of line to suggest to a woman who is quite tall that aiming for the very lowest healthy BMI is probably not super healthy for her, when that's specifically what she asked. Many of us decide to settle for "a little unhealthy" if it suits us, but it's best to do that knowingly and with all our options laid out clearly.18 -
It just seems odd tha the others (overweight, obese etc) are in 5s.
So I can assume 18.5-20 is still healthy?
There are a lot of factors that go into whether or not that is actually healthy. A BMI of 19 would put me as a 5'10" male at 132 Lbs...I would basically look and be emaciated...I'd look sick AF and I would have to basically not only get lean, but also burn a lot of muscle mass. I would be quite skeletal...I don't think that would be healthy.
<<<For perspective, I'm 182 in my profile picture...as per BMI, I'm slightly overweight. I'm not super six pack lean, but I'm also not fat...about 15% BF. Even to get to the middle of the BMI range, I'd have to burn some muscle mass.
BMI isn't really a range in order that you can pick and choose and still be healthy...it is a range in order to accommodate various frames and builds, including more or less muscle mass.
Most people I've ever seen at the low end of BMI typically look like they're on the verge of being underweight...because they are. Basically skin and bones at that point.12 -
I had a check up a few weeks ago, other than low iron levels (which I’m taking supplements for now) and low blood pressure (which has always been low regardless of my weight) everything was ok. I didn’t mention losing weight as I didn’t think I needed to, I’m due back in a few weeks to recheck iron so will ask then9
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cwolfman13 wrote: »It just seems odd tha the others (overweight, obese etc) are in 5s.
So I can assume 18.5-20 is still healthy?
There are a lot of factors that go into whether or not that is actually healthy. A BMI of 19 would put me as a 5'10" male at 132 Lbs...I would basically look and be emaciated...I'd look sick AF and I would have to basically not only get lean, but also burn a lot of muscle mass. I would be quite skeletal...I don't think that would be healthy.
<<<For perspective, I'm 182 in my profile picture...as per BMI, I'm slightly overweight. I'm not super six pack lean, but I'm also not fat...about 15% BF. Even to get to the middle of the BMI range, I'd have to burn some muscle mass.
BMI isn't really a range in order that you can pick and choose and still be healthy...it is a range in order to accommodate various frames and builds, including more or less muscle mass.
Most people I've ever seen at the low end of BMI typically look like they're on the verge of being underweight...because they are. Basically skin and bones at that point.
Thanks, I think skin and bones is a personal opinion though, some people like to be curvy and some don’t.18 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »It just seems odd tha the others (overweight, obese etc) are in 5s.
So I can assume 18.5-20 is still healthy?
There are a lot of factors that go into whether or not that is actually healthy. A BMI of 19 would put me as a 5'10" male at 132 Lbs...I would basically look and be emaciated...I'd look sick AF and I would have to basically not only get lean, but also burn a lot of muscle mass. I would be quite skeletal...I don't think that would be healthy.
<<<For perspective, I'm 182 in my profile picture...as per BMI, I'm slightly overweight. I'm not super six pack lean, but I'm also not fat...about 15% BF. Even to get to the middle of the BMI range, I'd have to burn some muscle mass.
BMI isn't really a range in order that you can pick and choose and still be healthy...it is a range in order to accommodate various frames and builds, including more or less muscle mass.
Most people I've ever seen at the low end of BMI typically look like they're on the verge of being underweight...because they are. Basically skin and bones at that point.
Thanks, I think skin and bones is a personal opinion though, some people like to be curvy and some don’t.
There's a happy medium between curvy and skin and bones. You can be lean without looking like you're borderline underweight. Or without *being* borderline underweight. That's why a number of people are suggesting recomp.12 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »It just seems odd tha the others (overweight, obese etc) are in 5s.
So I can assume 18.5-20 is still healthy?
There are a lot of factors that go into whether or not that is actually healthy. A BMI of 19 would put me as a 5'10" male at 132 Lbs...I would basically look and be emaciated...I'd look sick AF and I would have to basically not only get lean, but also burn a lot of muscle mass. I would be quite skeletal...I don't think that would be healthy.
<<<For perspective, I'm 182 in my profile picture...as per BMI, I'm slightly overweight. I'm not super six pack lean, but I'm also not fat...about 15% BF. Even to get to the middle of the BMI range, I'd have to burn some muscle mass.
BMI isn't really a range in order that you can pick and choose and still be healthy...it is a range in order to accommodate various frames and builds, including more or less muscle mass.
Most people I've ever seen at the low end of BMI typically look like they're on the verge of being underweight...because they are. Basically skin and bones at that point.
Thanks, I think skin and bones is a personal opinion though, some people like to be curvy and some don’t.
There's a happy medium...I could drop to 170 or so and be very lean and aesthetically look really good because my muscles would be well defined, 6 pack and all of that...at 132 I would indeed be skin and bones...I know because that's about where I was when I was a senior in high school, and I was super skinny and bony.
Perhaps not liking that particular look is my opinion...but I've never seen anyone at the bottom end of BMI who didn't look pretty well emaciated...no fat, but no muscle either.13 -
There's a happy medium...I could drop to 170 or so and be very lean and aesthetically look really good because my muscles would be well defined, 6 pack and all of that...at 132 I would indeed be skin and bones...I know because that's about where I was when I was a senior in high school, and I was super skinny and bony.
Perhaps not liking that particular look is my opinion...but I've never seen anyone at the bottom end of BMI who didn't look pretty well emaciated...no fat, but no muscle either.[/quote]
Those with thin body types and small frames are ectomorphs. Certainly not emaciated simply because they are thin with small muscles. I’m also unsure why you are comparing yourself to a female as I think it likely your frame would be much larger than hers. Apples to oranges.18 -
And apparently I don’t know how to properly quote and respond to others. Sorry about the above reply.7
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There's a happy medium...I could drop to 170 or so and be very lean and aesthetically look really good because my muscles would be well defined, 6 pack and all of that...at 132 I would indeed be skin and bones...I know because that's about where I was when I was a senior in high school, and I was super skinny and bony.
Perhaps not liking that particular look is my opinion...but I've never seen anyone at the bottom end of BMI who didn't look pretty well emaciated...no fat, but no muscle either.
Those with thin body types and small frames are ectomorphs. Certainly not emaciated simply because they are thin with small muscles. I’m also unsure why you are comparing yourself to a female as I think it likely your frame would be much larger than hers. Apples to oranges. [/quote]
Somatotypes aren't a thing...
My best friend's ex is very thin and at the bottom of BMI...he loves that look...to me, she just looks ill with ribs and other bones poking out everywhere. She has a very small frame and bone structure...probably borderline essential fat and pretty much only enough muscle mass to move...
Like I said, it's just not my thing aesthetically and I've never seen anyone that low who did not look somewhat ill to me. Other people think it's hot...I'm not one of those people.14 -
@cwolfman13 well I learned that somatotypes are not a thing today. I just did some interesting reading.
I think you are likely in the majority with your preferences.7 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »It just seems odd tha the others (overweight, obese etc) are in 5s.
So I can assume 18.5-20 is still healthy?
There are a lot of factors that go into whether or not that is actually healthy. A BMI of 19 would put me as a 5'10" male at 132 Lbs...I would basically look and be emaciated...I'd look sick AF and I would have to basically not only get lean, but also burn a lot of muscle mass. I would be quite skeletal...I don't think that would be healthy.
<<<For perspective, I'm 182 in my profile picture...as per BMI, I'm slightly overweight. I'm not super six pack lean, but I'm also not fat...about 15% BF. Even to get to the middle of the BMI range, I'd have to burn some muscle mass.
BMI isn't really a range in order that you can pick and choose and still be healthy...it is a range in order to accommodate various frames and builds, including more or less muscle mass.
Most people I've ever seen at the low end of BMI typically look like they're on the verge of being underweight...because they are. Basically skin and bones at that point.
Thanks, I think skin and bones is a personal opinion though, some people like to be curvy and some don’t.
There's a happy medium...I could drop to 170 or so and be very lean and aesthetically look really good because my muscles would be well defined, 6 pack and all of that...at 132 I would indeed be skin and bones...I know because that's about where I was when I was a senior in high school, and I was super skinny and bony.
Perhaps not liking that particular look is my opinion...but I've never seen anyone at the bottom end of BMI who didn't look pretty well emaciated...no fat, but no muscle either.
I've been at the bottom of my BMI a few times.. (I am 5'7). While I personally did not prefer being that low, I definitely did not look emaciated in any way! I still love how I look in those photos when I look back at them. But everyone has their preference and preferred aesthetic.
OP I also recommend looking into recomp. If you are ultra close to your aesthetic goal and just want to lose a few extra lbs, fine. But if you look at yourself and are not near where you want to be, working on body composition can definitely help9 -
Since you are going to see your PCP in a few weeks just mention that you want to drop to ...whatever goal weight you have in mind. See what he/she says. Better than asking on an online forum where people don't know what is healthy for you. Then follow the professional advice. Do take a hard look at what is required to maintain that goal weight and see if that will fit into your lifestyle.7
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mountainmare wrote: »Since you are going to see your PCP in a few weeks just mention that you want to drop to ...whatever goal weight you have in mind. See what he/she says. Better than asking on an online forum where people don't know what is healthy for you. Then follow the professional advice. Do take a hard look at what is required to maintain that goal weight and see if that will fit into your lifestyle.
That's a kicker right there that many people seem to ignore. The lowest I dropped to since starting all of this was 175...I was pretty lean and looked pretty awesome...but it was a PITA to maintain. I enjoy healthy living and a good quality diet and regular exercise...but I also like pizza, beer, cheese burgers at the Saturday afternoon pool party, pub grub, etc. I had to really be a lot more strict at 175 vs 182 with both my diet and my exercise...and I was hungry a lot which I assume was a hormonal thing attributable to my level of leanness which was somewhere between 10-12%11 -
This is me at the bottom of BMI. Not skin and bones at all and still at 22% (give or take) bf. That’s why BMI = BS.
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I'm hanging out at the bottom of my healthy BMI range at the moment because I do cycling metric and full centuries, and this is a good muscle to weight ratio for me. I'm small boned and have a very narrow frame and tbh I don't look much different now than I did 10 lbs. ago.
I'm doing a slow recomp and like that I show some definition in my arms now, and less of a muffin top, but my current weight is less about what i look like and more about what suits the activities i enjoy. I don't find it difficult to maintain right now, and if and when the time comes that I'm less active i plan on moving back up 10 or 15 lbs. because it's less about what I look like and more about how I feel.8 -
This is me at the bottom of BMI. Not skin and bones at all and still at 22% (give or take) bf. That’s why BMI = BS.
I don’t see what about this picture is supposed to make BMI - a repeatedly, reliably validated population analysis metric - “BS”.
Your interpretation of BMI rather than the actual metric seems to be at fault.18 -
In terms of aesthetics I’m ok, it’s really just some fat of the top of my thighs and a tiny bit on my stomach. My body looks better now at 145 then it did at 140 2 years ago because I’ve got a bit of extra muscle and I’ve lost loose skin from baby weight.
In terms of maintenance I think it’s pretty easy, when I lost weight before i gave up drinking short term, this time I know I’m not going to drink again.
I will see what the doctor says when I go but thank you very much for all your replies.4 -
Pictures for perspective, I don’t think I’m in any danger of being skin and bones - I think 7lbs less would be ok?9 -
In terms of aesthetics I’m ok, it’s really just some fat of the top of my thighs and a tiny bit on my stomach. My body looks better now at 145 then it did at 140 2 years ago because I’ve got a bit of extra muscle and I’ve lost loose skin from baby weight.
In terms of maintenance I think it’s pretty easy, when I lost weight before i gave up drinking short term, this time I know I’m not going to drink again.
I will see what the doctor says when I go but thank you very much for all your replies.
My previous comment suggesting recomp still stands.6
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