# Are you fat? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 9, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-fat/553173 "2010-09-09T13:32:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-fat/553173/101 "2010-09-14T03:24:05Z")
> [@BottledBlondJeanie](#): > > Why is it the folks on the high side of BMI always claim it’s BS, but not the contrary. Because no one wants to admit that they’re fat? Oh, you meant that rhetorically. In that case, I restate my answer to “…” ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-fat/553173/102 "2010-09-14T04:08:37Z")
My BMI is 23 and change (6’2, 185) and I thought it would be lower. I’m happy with my body though, the BMI has never really been a concern of mine. ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-fat/553173/103 "2010-09-14T04:18:57Z")
I used to be underweight, but my Freshman 15 (more like 10, but whatever) just plunked me right into my target zone. So that worked out well. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-fat/553173/104 "2010-09-14T11:25:56Z")
> [@BottledBlondJeanie](#): > > No, not at all. Why is it the folks on the high side of BMI always claim it’s BS, but not the contrary. I think for some people it is not the best way of gauging “health”, but for the vast majority of debunkers, I think they are simply in denial. Harsh but true. When I was heavier, I was in denial. When I’d gain the Freshman 10 and a nutrition/health-type person told me I needed to lose five pounds, I was adamantly in denial. I think it’s only when you lose the weight when you realize, “Hey, I was carrying a little bit way too much extra weight! Look at how bloated my face was!” I know someone who’s 5’7’’ and is a little more than 200 lbs. She’ll say things like, “I know I’m not _fat_ fat, just a little overweight.” Um…just because you’re pear-shaped and fat looks better when distributed in that way, that doesn’t mean you aren’t any less fat than any other person who has a BMI of 30. > [@](#): > > After this generality, I am a fat skinny person. I’m at the low end of the BMI, eat crap, don’t get enough exercise, and have no excuse for not having a 6 pack minus my 2 C-sections. Yes, genetics rock, but accounts of a limited diet plus exercise, but having 20 or so admitted pounds to lose boggles my mind. That said, if someone brags an assload about his or her weight and has had weight loss surgery admit it, it’s great, but don’t give me all the crap about your willpower. Au contrare. It does take willpower to KEEP the weight loss; surgery is no way near a perfect solution, and people do gain the weight back post-operation. I’d wager to say it takes more willpower to keep the weight off when you’ve had surgery than if you’d lost it without, because the restrictions are stricter than with a normal diet, and if you don’t stick with it you can die. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-fat/553173/105 "2010-09-14T14:04:05Z")
There was an interesting thread about goal weights on a weight loss forum I visit. People who were starting out on their weight loss journey were adamant that BMI was crap and if they reached a healthy BMI they would be gaunt, skeletal, etc. Those of us at goal weight posted that BMI was pretty spot on. (I am hesitant to link to that other thread). When I was 200 lbs, I set my first goal weight at 150 lbs. It seemed like a doable, maintainable weight. I eventually reached 130, a lower weight than what I weighed in high school, a completely unimaginable weight when I was 200 lbs. I used to think I was just a “big girl,” built like an amazon. It turns out, I may be tall, but I have a tiny frame and little bird-like bones. It took me about a year at goal weight to shake the mental image that I am BIG. So, I think there can sometimes be a mental component to visualizing an “ideal weight.” ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-fat/553173/106 "2010-09-14T16:43:12Z")
I said “obese” but possibly I’m in the morbidly obese range; not sure where the BMI cutoff is for that (or other deciding factors). I do have a couple of health conditions which are at least aggravated by the weight, if not outright caused by it. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-fat/553173/107 "2010-09-14T20:23:11Z")
Female and six feet tall. The heaviest I’ve ever been is a bit over 170, which is still within my healthy BMI range; when I was a kid and a teenager, I was ridiculously thin because of (a) growing all the time and (b) dance. Per my yearly physical about a week ago, I currently weigh just under 160. ETA: My NP called with my test results today and my cholesteral levels are apparently “amazing.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-fat/553173/108 "2010-09-15T06:29:50Z")
> [@Glory](#): > > There was an interesting thread about goal weights on a weight loss forum I visit. People who were starting out on their weight loss journey were adamant that BMI was crap and if they reached a healthy BMI they would be gaunt, skeletal, etc. > > Those of us at goal weight posted that BMI was pretty spot on. At my current height and weight, my BMI is 23.5. When I had more muscle but (according to fat calipers) almost the same body fat as now, my BMI was 24.9, which is right at the edge of overweight. I had between 9 and 11% body fat; the uncertainty is due to the range of error of the tool and measurements. BMI is useless as a gauge for anyone who exercises. I only work out about 3 days a week on average, I’ve got an average frame, I’m not hugely muscular, I don’t have elite-level low body fat. It’s next to useless even with sedentary populations. What it was meant to be used for was as a gross population indicator of the likelihood of dying of a heart problem. Period. It has been misapplied as a comparison of body composition when it has absolutely nothing to do with that. We have better tools for assessing body composition that are almost as easy to use. There’s no real value to BMI figures. ---
**Author:** ![EVERYNAMEISTAKEN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac8455/32.png) [@EVERYNAMEISTAKEN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EVERYNAMEISTAKEN)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-fat/553173/109 "2010-09-15T06:33:55Z")
Nope, I am lucky enough to have genetics that make it so I can never get truly fat regardless of how much I eat. However, not working out much has made me pretty flabby. I recently started going to the gym every other day, and plan to get myself into shape! Six pack abs, here I come. ---
**Author:** ![Dunkelheit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dunkelheit/32/248_2.png) [@Dunkelheit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunkelheit)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-fat/553173/110 "2010-09-15T17:27:41Z")
> [@Glory](#): > > I used to think I was just a “big girl,” built like an amazon. It turns out, I may be tall, but I have a tiny frame and little bird-like bones. It took me about a year at goal weight to shake the mental image that I am BIG. So, I think there can sometimes be a mental component to visualizing an “ideal weight.” True, there can be, but by the same token there seems to be a widespread assumption that a short woman is supposed to have a tiny frame and bird-like bones too. I am “tiny” in the sense of being short, but I have a sturdy frame and a lot of muscle, so if I’m at all fit, I am going to be heavier than I look even if I’m not carrying excess fat. To reach my “ideal” BMI weight, I would probably have to have something amputated. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-fat/553173/111 "2010-09-15T19:08:44Z")
As a cow. I’m 5’8", 285 today. Turned 47 on Monday. From 0 to 25, I was skinny and a little muscular. About 160. Becoming a cop on a fugitive squad made me get pretty fit and muscular, about 182. Stopped being a cop, re-possessed my travel agency, got married, and had back surgery all in 3 months. Sedentary life got me to 200 or so, but still muscular. Then, in 2003 I got run over on my motorcycle by a car. Went from sedentary to immobile for a couple of years. Now I’m just fat and lazy with a new $1,000 treadmill and a $500 bike that mock me as I go to the pantry for more Coke and Fritos. Luckily, I just look very stocky and muscular instead of John Candy/Chris Farley. My problem is I’d rather have 4 fried chickens and a Coke instead of dry, white toast. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-fat/553173/112 "2010-09-15T19:26:11Z")
Really, there’s a middle ground between 4 fried chickens and dry, white toast… ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-fat/553173/113 "2010-09-15T19:32:25Z")
> [@Glory](#): > > Really, there’s a middle ground between 4 fried chickens and dry, white toast… [Whooooooooosh.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blues_Brothers_(film)) ---
**Author:** ![ptr2void](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ptr2void/32/3406_2.png) [@ptr2void](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ptr2void)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-fat/553173/114 "2010-09-15T19:35:05Z")
A couple of years ago I was pretty damn obese, with a BMI of 45.5. Today I’m at the high end of normal @ 24.4. I suspect that were I able to get rid of most of the loose skin I’ve got now I’d at least be well in the center of the normal BMI range. Also, as regards artificial sweeteners, I use them pretty exclusively. Splenda in my coffee and artificial sweetener in my yogurt and soda. No adverse health effects whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-fat/553173/115 "2010-09-16T20:28:29Z")
> [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > Within in the range, but just barely. The BMI is a crap reference for anyone who is muscular. That is exactly right. I’m in excellent physical shape nowadays, but if we were to judge based on BMI alone, I would be considered quite obese. That’s why none of the options in this poll apply to me. ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-fat/553173/116 "2010-09-16T22:51:59Z")
I’m 5’3" and 50kg/110lb, giving me a BMI of 19.5. I’m muscular for my size, and this was the case even when I was 61kg (BMI: 23.8) but when I look at photos from back then, I can see this huge layer of fat that didn’t need to be there. Aesthetically it wasn’t terrible, but it was useless weight, and I feel faster, stronger and more powerful having shed that weight. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-fat/553173.md?page=5)