# Are you overweight? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 8, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788 "2005-12-08T23:38:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788/21 "2005-12-09T02:36:33Z")
Not overweight. Today. But I’ve been a yo-yoer all my adult life and the struggle to stay at my correct weight overwhelms me sometimes. Because of all the weight I’ve lost (and regained and lost etc etc), I can’t be described as trim or taut. ---
**Author:** ![Billy\_Powell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Billy\_Powell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billy_Powell)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788/22 "2005-12-09T03:03:24Z")
6’3" 260 lbs. Fat. Wino for eight years. Fortunately, it’s dead simple to lose weight safely, especially if you’re particularly heavy and lack much lean muscle mass. Stop all drinking, and eat regularly. Throw some iron around. Definitely fat, though. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788/23 "2005-12-09T03:08:28Z")
Eek. It seems I’ve crossed over in the last six months from a BMI of 28 (overweight) to 30 (obese). That makes me 40-50 pounds overweight. Gah, I seriously need to lose some weight. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788/24 "2005-12-09T03:14:20Z")
I don’t want to even get started at this point. Really. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788/25 "2005-12-09T03:19:50Z")
No. I am within normal range with a 23% BMI, but I would like to be more fit I still haven’t lost my post baby flabby ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788/26 "2005-12-09T03:40:09Z")
> [@fishbicycle](#): > > According to the BMI calculator , I am overweight by WHO-CDC standards and marginally over, according to halls.md v2. I am in the 39th percentile for men my age (47), height (5’8") and weight (170). My BMI is 25.8. > > I didn’t know I was overweight! I don’t feel overweight. I don’t look overweight. My blood pressure is normal. I am hardly ever sick - I don’t think I’ve had a cold in almost a year. I don’t take any medicine. But I smoke, although I am trying to summon up the will to quit. Same height,age. Way different weight. I’ve got you by 100 lbs. Fat, hell yes! ---
**Author:** ![Giant\_Spongess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@Giant\_Spongess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giant_Spongess)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788/27 "2005-12-09T03:54:21Z")
Nope. I’m quite average. My weight has been the same for the last six or seven years, though, so it’s not all that surprising. I figure my body has hit optimum and there it’s going to stay, at least until I hit 30 and my metabolism slows down. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788/28 "2005-12-09T04:07:03Z")
Nope. Apparently I have a BMI of 23.6. And when I weighed 10 lbs more than I do now, my doctor said my weight was healthy for my frame. Still more than I’d like, but I gained 5 lbs visiting my parents at Thanksgiving and I’ve only lost a couple of those because I cannot resist all the holiday cookies and candies everyone’s bringing into the office. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788/29 "2005-12-09T04:16:31Z")
Nope. ---
**Author:** ![furthur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@furthur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furthur)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788/30 "2005-12-09T04:25:26Z")
Nope. BMI 24.2. Mrs. Furthur ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788/31 "2005-12-09T04:38:41Z")
Yeah, morbidly. 240 on a 5’7" frame at present but I’m down from 360 a little over a year ago without any kind of medical intervention. Just a change in diet. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788/32 "2005-12-09T04:52:40Z")
Nope. I think I’m average. Before I went into the military, I’d classify myself as “scrawny.” I was 5’8" and 133 LBS. After 15 months being enlisted, I’m still 5’8" but now weigh 155. I like my weight, although I do think I could use a little more muscle. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788/33 "2005-12-09T05:08:22Z")
I am significantly overweight. But I also lost about 10% of my body weight the last eight months and hope do a bit better over the next twelve. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788/34 "2005-12-09T05:31:58Z")
Yes, about 20 pounds. I am only average height, and with a small bone structure. So every OUNCE is there. Nowhere for it to hide. I’m very fit though, on paper (low cholesteral, heart rate, glucose, all that), as well as in action. I teach PE classes (the knowledge is in one’s head, not on their ass :D). But, I AM currently working on those 20 “broken leg pounds” which crept on when I broke my leg 2 and a half years ago, and seem to have taken up permanent residence. So while I haven’t stopped being “me” I certainly don’t accept the pounds as okay either. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788/35 "2005-12-09T05:37:43Z")
Although I don’t look it, according to the BMI calculator I am overweight. Barely. I’m not happy with it at all. I’m 5’ 10" (178 cm) tall. I was down to 160 pounds (73 kg) in May; considered normal with a BMI of 23. The gut was mostly gone, and I was feeling pretty good about myself … except that my hair was falling out in clumps. What started off as a minor case of alopecia aerota a couple of months before kicked into overdrive, leaving me looking like a chemo patient. After shots and gels, I was put on a long course of Prednisone. Most of my hair is back now, but there’s a few small spots left. I’m still on Prednisone, although in very small doses. Unfortunately, one side effect of Prednisone is weight gain. A few weeks ago, I topped out at 180 (82 kg); the heaviest I’ve been. Today I tipped the scales at 175 pounds (79 kg), with a BMI of 25.1. It’s still considered overweight. I’ve been cutting calories, eating a lot of salads to fill me up, working out a bit more, and I just started in a curling league. (Sweeping really can be a workout!) My ideal weight is 155 (70 kg), and I’m hoping I can get down to that by the end of the winter. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788/36 "2005-12-09T06:45:28Z")
According to the BMI thing I’m in the “normal” range, but I know for a fact I could stand to A) get in better shape again (haven’t been doing more than a few hours of cardio workouts per WEEK for months, due to knee problems) and B) lose 10-15 pounds at the least. I’m 5’0, 105lbs, BMI apparently 21. Medicine might say I’m “average” but I’m extremely not happy with my body at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788/37 "2005-12-09T06:49:07Z")
In the last four weeks, my BMI has dropped from 32.2 to 30.7. Not far to go and I’ll be back in the Overweight range rather than obese. Yay! Or something like that. I guess I don’t look as big as I am. I certainly photograph at my real size, but IRL if I go into a clothing store I have trouble convincing the staff that I’m not a 14. I generally have to try one on before they’ll believe me and start pulling out the 16-18 size range. That’s just weird. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788/38 "2005-12-09T07:07:54Z")
I’m underweight by a few kilos but still kind of flabby from never exercising. In fact, I am so unfit that if I started exercising I would probably _gain_ weight instead of losing it. That’s how much muscle tone I have. Uh… I’ll start tomorrow. Yeah, that’s right. Tomorrow. _cough_ ---
**Author:** ![Tamryne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@Tamryne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamryne)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788/39 "2005-12-09T07:11:41Z")
My BMI has held at a pretty steady 22 for the past few years. Well, it has gone up from a 21 in my high school freshman year. 128lbs on a 5’4 gal. Looking at me, people usually think I am a size or two bigger than I actually am. Probably cause most of my weight is flab… I really need to start working out again. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788/40 "2005-12-09T07:40:44Z")
I’ve overweight if you go strictly by my height and weight. However, if you add muscle mass into that equation, I’m probably in the safe range. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-overweight/334788.md?page=3)