Small waist size and bmi

I know that your normal BMI is just a number. I just have an issue with getting a straightforward answer about my BMI because I have such a small waist size for my weight and height. (215,  66.5", 32" waist) I also have a very sturdy frame. My wrist size is like 7"! Does anyone else have this problem?

The BMI tool says that I should be at least 153 to be a normal healthy weight. I just feel this is too low. Im short yes, but Im built so much different than other girls. Being mixed ethnicities (not asian)  I am "curvier". I feel that at 153 I would be too skinny.

I would love input from females with similar problems. What are your measurements and gw?

I've always had an issue with BMI, and not just because it tells me info I don't want to hear.  BMI doesn't take into account waist size, or body fat %, or frame size, or overall fitness.  BMI is really a LOOSE guideline that only works if you are average beyond average.

I'm 5'7", 168lbs, 30" waist and my BMI is 'overweight'....I also run marathons, my doctor thinks I am at a perfectly good weight and am in pretty good health.  So I don't give a crap what my BMI is.

My best friend is 5'1", 160lbs, 29" waist and has a BMI of 'obese'.  She also has a big rack and a big bum (*ahem, she's hourglass), runs 5 days a week, lifts weights, can beat me up and plays professional rugby...clearly she isn't in bad shape.

I would judge your overall health by all the things you mentioned, without BMI. 

Tough for us guys....women get a pass on the thigh and, er, bubble weight.  Waistline is what measures the really dangerous fat, and if you've got that down to normal for your height you're controlling the serious health risks (high blood sugar, high blood pressure, poor liver function, etc.).

Original Post by tasherie:

I know that your normal BMI is just a number. I just have an issue with getting a straightforward answer about my BMI because I have such a small waist size for my weight and height. (215,  66.5", 32" waist) I also have a very sturdy frame. My wrist size is like 7"! Does anyone else have this problem?

The BMI tool says that I should be at least 153 to be a normal healthy weight. I just feel this is too low. Im short yes, but Im built so much different than other girls. Being mixed ethnicities (not asian)  I am "curvier". I feel that at 153 I would be too skinny.

I would love input from females with similar problems. What are your measurements and gw?

I am 5'7", 139 lbs, and I still am not at my goal weight, so for you, at 5'5", I think 153 is too heavy - curves or no curves.   As far as frame size - I also have a 7" wrist - nothing large about that at all.  And you don't measure frame size by your wrist size (a fat wrist will be larger) - you use the bones in your elbow.  But honestly, you don't need to worry about that so much right now.   You'll know as you lose and get closer to your goal "shape" (because that is what we all really aim for...the number on the scale doesn't mean a thing!) what that "right" number is for you.  And don't give BMI a second thought - it's a rather useless stat.  Use Body Fat % - that will tell you much more.

i am 5' 6.5". Obviously you and I are alike but not the same at all. I have been skinny before and I was 167 (when I was a teen) ..139?! I would look like skeletor..lol. No offense. That weight might look great on you, but would def not look great on me.  I also have large breasts, hips and behind. Those are never gonna go away no matter what I do not including surgery.

I just want to be healthy and I guess to get an accurate measurement of body fat im gonna have to get me some calipers.

It also seems to me that I might have a little more of a muscular build than you.

Original Post by tasherie:

i am 5' 6.5". Obviously you and I are alike but not the same at all. I have been skinny before and I was 167..139?! I would look like skeletor..lol. No offense. That weight might look great on you, but would def not look great on me.  I also have large breasts, hips and behind. Those are never gonna go away no matter what I do not including surgery.

I just want to be healthy and I guess to get an accurate measurement of body fat im gonna have to get me some calipers.

 Sorry, I misread your height.   Still, even at my height, 167 would not be skinny, (on me that would definitely be fat - been there more than once) and no offense meant either.   Your breasts and butt and hips, if large, do consist mostly of fat.  And if you work hard enough, you WILL reduce them.  Yes, because of genetics, your fat stores will be in different places than others, but there is nothing about your genetics that says you cannot lose it, IF that is what you want to do.  As I said, I would not be concerned so much with the number on the scale right now...if you get down to 163 and you are happy there (we all have our own individual ideas of how we should look and what makes us happy) then you'll know that then.  As far as body fat, check out all the new scales - most of them these days have a body fat monitor built in.  I love mine - the best thing is watching THAT number go down!!  :-) 

And as far as muscles, yep...I have them.  In addition to cardio, I've been doing free weights and machines (at fairly heavy weights for a girl) regularly, for over 20 years.

lol ..im not 5' 5". I am closer to 5' 7".. just not exactly. Even with a rudimentary bmi tool i would only be slightly overweight at 167. With my breasts hips and rear are included in that number, I think that will be exactly where I want to be. Thanks for the input tho.

A rudimentary BMI tool?  Not sure what you are using...try this link for a better idea about healthy weight numbers.

http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm

You must have some serious curves! 215 with a 32" waist is pretty remarkable.

I definitely agree with thermal - there are real limits to BMI, particularly for athletes and other individuals with a lot of muscle mass. However, the reason there is a range given (instead of just one ideal weight) is to account for difference in frame size and build. So, if you have a large frame you should aim for the upper end, and if you have a small frame you should aim for the lower end.

Anyway, I am 64" tall, starting weight: 180 lbs/30.9 BMI (obese), current weight: 158 lbs/27.3 BMI (overweight), goal weight 140 lbs/24.0 BMI (healthy). I have a fairly curvy build as well, with wide hips and big boobs. According to the wrist circumference test, I have a large frame. I have always been on the big side, and if I hit my goal weight, it will be the lightest I have ever been at my current height.

As for your goals, I think that 153 is an appropriate and healthy weight, as long as you aren't doing serious strength training (then you could use body fat percentage instead). It puts you at the upper end of the healthy range, which will give you plenty of room for curves. If you are curvy now, chances are, you'll still be curvy then. I speak from experience - even when I briefly had a BMI of 25, I still had a DD chest, fat thighs, and a big bum.

the one you can use on this site.

tasherie - i know exactly what you're talking about!  i am 5ft2in., 156.2lbs, and have a 31.5in waist and i am considered overweight based on my bmi.  now, i'm not in denial, i know i am overweight, lol.  but, the "ideal" range for my height is 101-136lbs.  and i feel the same way you do - 101 is just not going to happen.  i would look terrible - i would have absolutely no shape.  and i kinda like my curves, thankyouverymuch.   i think that even 136 is a tad bit too low for me.  you see, i have some thick (strong) thighs, a bit of a behind, wide hips, and some ripped shoulder muscles (i have hs sports to thank for the thighs and the shoulders and my parents to thank for the butt and the hips, lol).  soo, i'm thinking getting down to about 140 and hovering around there would be a good weight for me.  i'll be close to the high end of my "ideal" weight range, but i'll still have my curves in all the right places.

check out this website: http://www.phord.com/cc/

it lets you put in your height, weight, AND waist size, and then it'll calculate more or less your lean mass and fat mass.  it still tells you your bmi and how much you need to lose to be in the "healthy" weight range.  but the fact that it breaks down your fat and lean masses is pretty cool.  i say plug your info into that every once in a while and watch the fat mass number decrease - then you'll know you're headed in the right direction! 

good luck!!!

BMI is really just a generality, just like the weight charts.  Our society likes numbers, so they create them for everythign.  I would go more by body fat measured with calipers, and how you look and feel.  You won't really know if 153 is too low for you until you get there, large frame or not, so I wouldn't sell yourself short about that just yet. 

Hi :) Just wanted to put in my $0.02.

I personally do not have this issue, but my younger sister could probably relate. She is 5'2" and a healthy 125-130. Now, if she lost anymore weight to be at a lower bmi, she'd look terrible. She has a tiny waist (26") and large hips (37" or 38" i think?) so, I think it it just depends on how you feel.

Also, if you are concerned about the health risks with having an "overweight" bmi, talk to your doc and see what he or she thinks about your goals.

best of luck to you :)

awsome..thx! I would be sick if I lost my curves...I love them!

nikki_08..thanks

I went on there and my lean mass is 176 lb. and my fat mass is 39.6 lb. so I guess based upon this calculator I was right..but I guess we will see. When I get down to about 170 i will see how much I need to lose then based upon how I feel. Some ppl might think thats fat...>shrug< oh well

No website calculator can tell you your lean mass and fat mass.  Your best bet is to get a body fat monitor scale.

At 139, at 5'7", I assure you I have plenty of curves.  LOL.

tasherie - welcome.   and exactly, nevermind what other people think - it's all about how you feel.  if you're happy at 170something, then stay there.  if people think you're fat or need to lose more, that's their problem, not yours. 

fitmom4life - i never said the website was going to provide exact measurements.  the OP mentioned about her having a small waist, and yes, the size of your waist along with how much you weigh, your height, your age, blah blah blah are all important when trying to figure out what the "right" weight for you is.  the tools on this website do not take into account all of those different factors (most yes, not all), so i figured i'd pass along a little helpful tool that gives you an idea (not exact data) on what your body composition is.  that's all it is, a tool. 

anywho... just my two cents...

fitmom4life-  thanks.  Im sure I will have no problem finding the right weight for my body type no matter what the numbers say.  And im sure u do...lol I am glad that weight works for you!

it goes to show that two women with similar heights can carry their weight so differently! lol

uhhhh........................................ ..

Original Post by nikki_08:

tasherie - welcome.   and exactly, nevermind what other people think - it's all about how you feel.  if you're happy at 170something, then stay there.  if people think you're fat or need to lose more, that's their problem, not yours. 

fitmom4life - i never said the website was going to provide exact measurements.  the OP mentioned about her having a small waist, and yes, the size of your waist along with how much you weigh, your height, your age, blah blah blah are all important when trying to figure out what the "right" weight for you is.  the tools on this website do not take into account all of those different factors (most yes, not all), so i figured i'd pass along a little helpful tool that gives you an idea (not exact data) on what your body composition is.  that's all it is, a tool. 

anywho... just my two cents...

 u noticed? lol thanks sometimes its hard for ppl to be positive because it doesn't fit in their box. Im not trying to be skinny. Just healthier. I would never want to lose my curves.

Again thank u so much

I'm also 5'6, weigh 156 pounds, and am larged frame (my wrist too, is 7" around, not that that means anything) and I am by no means sickly looking. My waist is about 30 inches, hips are 40, but my waist is always the smallest on me. I've never been up to 216 but I'd imagine I would haven't been too far off from where you are, give or take.

I'm not necessarily directing this at you, but sometimes I think that people use the whole "BMI is stupid, I would look sick at ____" argument as a rationalization or a way to make themselves feel better about being overweight. When I was 186 pounds I did the same thing.

As stated above, BMI offers a range for people from small frames to large frames. My personal goal is about 140. Basically, you're never going to know if it's "too skinny" until you get there. Set reasonable small goals and keep going from there. Don't dwell on BMI, but don't dismiss it in order to excuse being overweight, either.

Original Post by tasherie:

 u noticed? lol thanks sometimes its hard for ppl to be positive because it doesn't fit in their box. Im not trying to be skinny. Just healthier. I would never want to lose my curves.

 My posts are in response to your questions and perceptions about BMI.  Being "positive" is great, really great - I'm a very positive person myself, but being realistic is a pre-requisite, especially for anyone trying to lose weight.  My answers here are only intended to provide an opinion based on what I have learned over many years of working out, and maintaining my own weight.   I am certain that if you stick with it, you will reach your own goal, whatever that may be.   As long as you are healthy and happy, that is all that matters.

 I agree with the last poster - BMI is really quite useless because most people have no idea how to use it.

Original Post by tasherie:

... Im not trying to be skinny. Just healthier. I would never want to lose my curves. 

oh man, i totally hear ya!