Any thoughts?

[Gwynn]

I have been rigidly following NHS guidelines for BMI and getting my weight down by diet and exercise. I presently weigh 68.8Kg and have a BMI of 25.89. It seems to be important if trying to get diabetes under control.

The NHS recommends a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. So I have a way to go.

However looking around on the internet the latest research suggests that for older people an ideal (low mortality) BMI is 27. In which case I have passed that point. And yes, I am an older person.

Does anyone have any thoughts, reflections, revelations on this topic? Is it correct, useful, just so much tosh?

I am thinking of stopping my diet and swapping to a maintenance diet. Should I? Or should I just blindly carry on which would please my doctor.

If I follow the latest research them my doctor will report that I am overweight which is not helpful. Mind you in the 30 years I have lived here I have only seen my doctor face to face once!

 

[Toucan]

Hello @Geynn
To the best of my understanding BMI is only a guideline, as there are several other factors that influence body fat levels.
Unfortunately as you say, the medics tend to use it as an absolute measure. May be the best person to decide if we are overweight is ourselves!

I have always been a BMI obsessive! and was thrilled in recent years to have just got into the healthy range.
BUT I had always put myself down as 5' 2'' - its been that on my passport for years.
Then last year my grandson (towering over me at 6'plus) announced that no way was I that height and re-measured me and decreed that I am 5'.

Since then I have been struggling to loose weight to get back to healthy BMI, and if I am honest there were a few 'lumpy bits' still around and loosing a few more pounds has helped me stick to a healthier diet, but I've got stuck at 26.
I think I'll leave it at that! - even although those annoying calculators still say I'm overweight.

I'd say use your own judgment, at if you are happy with the weight you are that's fine

 

[DaveB]

Hi. Well I'm 76 with a BMI of 22 and feel my weight is about right for me. A BMI of 27 sounds way too high for many of us. I suspect some the Internet stuff is trying to justify being overweight without good facts to back it up. I'm a regular gym goer and have my body fat mass and visceral fat measured, which are good, and I think these may be more important than BMI by itself

 

[Drummer]

BMI was the bane of my life when I was young and muscular - I used to cart music kit around and could deadlift a drunken guitarist no problem. I had a 24 inch waist - my suede and leather skirts made good handbags in later years, but according to the numbers, I was overweight.
If body composition is taken into account, 27 is good, if there is muscle, bad if it is from fat.
The waist measurement should be taken into account.

 

[Gwynn]

Thanks for your replies. As always its not a sim0le picture.

I will carry on with the NHS guidelines 0lus 'how I feel'.

 

[Bazzlejet]

Personally, i really dont like using BMI at all. Due to my size and shape, i am ALWAYS off the scale and deemed obese when using just BMI.

I was playing my best rugby in my early 30's and easily the fittest i had been. At 5ft 7inches and 15 stone my BMI was around 34 (i think it was), which made me obese ! Using callipers my body fat was between 17-18%. I wasn't obese at all..... i was just square

I have no doubt if i calculate my BMI today (many years later), it would still show me as obese and want me to be a weight i haven't been since i was in school!

 

[Eddy Edson]

Obviously, it depends and nobody here is in a position to contradict what yr doc is telling you.

But FWIW yr BG range of 4.5 - 5.5 seems ideal, certainly "normal", and losing more weight doesn't seem like it would do anything useful on the score. Of course there may be other reasons for doing it.

 

[Inka]

I agree with those above who’ve said it depends on the individual. Someone can be outwardly slim but not have a healthy proportion of fat/muscle. I think most people are aware of their optimum weight.

I’d read the information about a higher BMI for older people too, but I can’t remember the details. If your BMI is practically within the normal range, I’d just concentrate on eating well and keeping active. If your doctor does comment, then you can take the opportunity to ask about the higher BMI for older people.

As Drummer says, the waist measurement is important too.

 

[Gwynn]

Oh yes there are 'other reasons'

I just wanted to know what my ideal weight ought to be, but as always it turns out that the best person to judge seems to be me.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Interesting question @Gwynn !

Good luck with your continued weight loss, and keep a close eye on your ‘how you feel’-o-meter. 🙂

 

[Swilko]

I have been rigidly following NHS guidelines for BMI and getting my weight down by diet and exercise. I presently weigh 68.8Kg and have a BMI of 25.89. It seems to be important if trying to get diabetes under control.

The NHS recommends a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. So I have a way to go.

However looking around on the internet the latest research suggests that for older people an ideal (low mortality) BMI is 27. In which case I have passed that point. And yes, I am an older person.

Does anyone have any thoughts, reflections, revelations on this topic? Is it correct, useful, just so much tosh?

I am thinking of stopping my diet and swapping to a maintenance diet. Should I? Or should I just blindly carry on which would please my doctor.

If I follow the latest research them my doctor will report that I am overweight which is not helpful. Mind you in the 30 years I have lived here I have only seen my doctor face to face once!

Hello Gwynn. Why change your diet if you have done so well in such a short time?

I think it is absolutely tosh regarding the importance of reducing BMI for diabetes control. As an example, per my data, my HbA1c fell from 58 to 45 despite my BMI increasing from 23.10 to 24.5 during this period. It is my intention to produce more details but am awaiting my appointment for my annual review at the end of February so that I can incorporate these too.