I'm a fit and fabulous size 14 but BMI says I'm obese, is this right?

Question

I recently had session with a personal trainer who after taking my body fat said that I am on the verge of being obese.I'm a size 12-14, 5'4" tall, and go the gym three to four times a week - can this be right?????

Answer 1

I'm size 12-14 and the same height as you- I'm also considered obese by my BMI rating. I'm fit and healthy, I eat well, walk everywhere and exersize. You can't possible be a size where your health is at risk, I think it's a load of crap, and carry on healthily the way you are

Answer 2

Wait, 5'6'' and 180 works out to a BMI of 29. You don't hit 30 until you weigh 186. But basically the answer to your question is that it's an imprecise formula. And that the threshold is lower than you'd think given most of our mental images of what obesity looks like. (This is why statistics on obesity always seem surprisingly high.)

Answer 3

If you had your body fat percentage tested, being 'obese' means you are carrying too much body fat for your frame. It doesn't necessarily mean you are obese as in 30-40lb overweight or that you are fat or even overweight. It's really silly, because it may just be a matter of losing 5lb or something stupid like that.

Also BMI is completely different to body fat percentage, so please don't confuse the two. You have to be 30lb-40lb overweight to be classified as obese according to BMI. But as far as body fat percentage is concerned, you could be a perfectly normal weight and still be classified as obese.

You could even be 8 stone, a size 8 and still be considered obese if you are carrying too much fat for your body frame! This is because some people have small frames or not enough muscle mass, so they appear to be okay weight and size-wise, but it turns out they are actually carrying too much body fat.

Try not to let it worry you too much. Just keep on doing what you are doing. I personally don't like the way some trainers and alternative practitioners throw around these terms and confuse people.

I've listed body fat percentages for females below. As you can see, 20%-28% body fat is a good place to be.

HTH : )

Answer 4

How much do you weigh? I'm 5f 4" also I weigh 9stone 8lb (134lbs). I'm also a size 12-14 ( more of a 12 then a 14).
My Bmi is in the healthy range.

http://www.jennycraig.com/healthy/healthyweight.asp
This link is for a site so you can see what your Bmi is.

Answer 5

I'm 5 foot 4 a UK6/8 and know for a fact that if I were a size 10 I would look puffy, bloated and let's be honest here, fat. My Mom is in her 50s and is between a UK 8/10. Girl do yourself a favour and listen to your trainer.

Answer 6

I would guess that at 5'4" tall and being a size 14 you could be what medically is termed obese on the BMI scale.

Just going to the gym has nothing to do with how fit you are, I know hundreds of people who go to the gym regularly and are not in the slightest bit what could be called 'fit'. This includes Instructors!

Not to burst the bubble, I am sure you have the best intentions, but it could also be that the PT did not do enough tests. BMI is not sufficient to get fitness levels. You should have had bf%, flexibility, VO2 max, HR recovery and measurements on all limbs, hips and waist, to name but a few.

Also make sure the exercise you do is specific for your goals.

Answer 7

I wouldn't worry. BMI is so annoying. As you could be a body builder (so all muscle and little fat) and be very small in height but weigh a lot as muscle ways more than fat and be classed as obese and they are very healthy.
On the other hand you could be really tall and have little body fat and muscle and be really healthy and be classed as under weight.
BMI isn't really a good perception of you. To have a more accurate view of your body you would need to know your body fat percentage to muscle percentage.

Answer 8

I would trust the opinion of your doctor more than I would trust the opinion of a personal traininer in the gym.

Web MD has a good article which explains BMI and gives good guildlines:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/how-accurate-body-mass-index-bmi

I say if you feel fit and are happy with yourself - then don't worry about some number that doesn't mean anything to you.

Answer 9

Lost Hero is on the spot.

Do not worry to much about it. There are different ways to measure fat; weight, BMI, the Broca scale, etc. Different tools that yield different results. Some of them do not take into account some factors and stress others.

I would not worry about it. (maybe it is just something the trainer says to have you going to the gym, who knows, things like that have happen). If in doubt check with your doctor.

But what I would really do is to take it easy, go to the gym, eat sensible and enjoy your fit and fabulous size!

Answer 10

that could possible be right, i am a size 14 too and I'm 5'6, my bmi says that I'm over weight for my weight and height,so yes I'm sure its right.