It's probably because they use BMI as a marker. Your BMI calculated with 167cm and 56 kg is 19.92 which is near the bottom of the healthy range (18.5-24.9). I know many of you don't believe BMI is a good marker of a healthy weight, but both government and pretty much all health professionals I know use it to determine if a person is at risk or not. Of course when you use it to calculate the BMI of someone who say is a body builder, it will come out skewed and isn't a good marker, but for most of the general public it is a great assessment tool!
tdot,
I think BMI stinks for any purpose other than demographics where you want to report, say, on obesity in Alabama.
As you mention, it is preposterous for the very muscular, but even for "regular" people it completely ignores the width of a skeletal frame. Among men my size (6'2") there is almost a 6 inch variation in the width of the shoulders ...talking only skeletal frame not shoulder muscles. To assume that two 6'2 inchers at 200 pounds have identical fat content is ridiculous because a large skeleton will carry much more muscle, tendons, ligament, cartilege, even BLOOD and hold much more water and even weigh more in its own bones than a narrow skeleton.
BMI is truly only one step more than JUST taking weight as in, "You weigh 175#, therefor you must be fat." It's a total waste of time and effort.
For any even REASONABLE stab at bodyfat content one must have some input on frame size...whether pelvic width, or clavicle end to end, or cranial, wrist or ankle measurement...maybe even FOOT length (but that's ANOTHER story)
That's your opinion I guess. Everyone is entitled to it. But you should know that trained health professionals as I am use it in everyday work. Of course it is not the be-all-end all, but it is a measure which works for most people. When I do a clinical assessment, I don't just calculate BMI and if it's above I say "oh you're overweight". I also look at the person. Of course if it's someone that has above average lean body mass I disregard BMI altogether. But as I said it really is a good tool for the type of client/patient I deal with. Most of them ARE overweight and BMI helps them see that and set a realistic goal.
That's fine Lenin, you're right about BMI in the sense that for people that are muscular and such, it really has no validity.
But we are referring to a BMI reading for someone that is 5'6 and 103 lbs, which isn't healthy. The BMI is just a tool that can be used to prove this, and in this case, it is relevant.
Yes, you are unhealthily thin (especially since you aren't getting your period!), but no, anorexia isn't just dependant on weight, but rather behaviours and mind set AND weight all combined. You cant just diagnose someone with an eating disorder based on their weight alone, but we've been talking about your mind set and behaviours and such, and based on my personal experiences I would say that you have a problem.
BMI is simply combining the old insurance table into one number and making it sound scientific. BMI is not as good even because the old insurance tables had at least 3 frame categories and occasionally separate groupings by age and sex making them FAR superior guides.
There are several ways to measure bodyfat percentage, ranging from the bad to the pretty good. All these methods have FAR more meaning than the BMI which is coincidentally the only "measurement" that can be made over the phone or the internet. Even a simple claliper grab at the waistline by someone with training will reveal FAR more about overweight/obesity than a BMI calculation involving nothing but height and weight.
The only thing BMI has going for it is that it's VERY simple (and simpleminded.)
Ankh,
I think 5'6" at 103# is okay for a 21 year old...weight will come on with age, believe me.
Lack of menses is another issue and usually indicates caloric insufficiency or extremely low bodyfat, the latter sounds like your situation. Try to get a good idea of how many calores you are actually eating in a day and don't allow them to dip under 1500.
Don't worry, you won't gain weight.
thnx.
but lenin,so basically BMI is i'd say the final step in the lets say "eating disorder" diagnosis AFTER the other sypmtoms prevail?because as we all know its a psychological disease which stems from and emotional/deep rooted issue.
the thing is,with me being underweight,i'm not sure if when people see me they'd assume i am anorexic,and THATS what i DONT want,however,strange as i might sound,i agree with girlygirl11 in that i have a prob,hence i am seeing a therapist.
so what you also say,is that once i eat normal i wont gain too much weight?hmm....i dont think i agree with that.my fear is that my metabolism might have slowed down and if i try to eat normal again,i'll pick up too much weight in a short space of time....DONT WANT THAT.i AM willing to make an effort,but its gonna take a lllllloooonnnnnngggggg time.
my question now is: if you see someone in the stree thats 1,68m and weighs 47kg,would you think they are anorexic?by there appearance?
Some people would think that. I used to get people telling me they thought I was anorexic when I was 100 lbs. I was drinking weight gain shakes at the time and wanted to gain weight. I learned to just let people think what they want and not care. I even had people tell me I was too skinny when I weighed 140 lbs. So people will think and say what they want. The important thing is to be healthy.
my question now is: if you see someone in the stree thats 1,68m and weighs 47kg,would you think they are anorexic?by there appearance?
I spend a lot of time in Manhattan and I would assume that such a woman is a model or a ballerina! For real.
Enjoy where you're at and eat light-normal. Your metabolism is probably screwed up but it will slowly adjust to a larger amount of food. Enough to maintain your health at least. If 1500 calories is scary, probably 1300 will do...make sure you are getting 60 grams protein as a minimum and go as low-fat as you choose.
Your best bet is to be checked out by a professional and get their opinion (a full physical involving all sorts of tests, and make sure they know your story well..preferably with experience in the ED area because they will be able to diagnose you with certainty). You've posted your story on the board previously, and while some people naturally are thin, you clearly have lost weight to get where you are. That's why the 'weight will come with age' thin from Lenin doesn't apply- because this is not a natural state for you, and your body is clearly in trouble..
Just a little advice / idea. You admit you have at least a slight eating problem which is a start. But underneath if you want to start really living healthy, you know you do, or you still are very much under the influence of the disordered perception to eating. I was there and yes, when you decide to try and get better / eat more regularly, your metabolism is way lower than it should and you might gain a bit (a true test whether mentally you are recovered or need more time) But again, I've been there, it took a long time, but (and for me I was also young twenties) that isn't a time of life to be spending worring about tomatoes making you fat. If you're scared still of gaining weight, find out an average idea of what your daily caloric intake should be, what on average you are at now, and just increase 100-200 every few days until you get there. Also try to get rid of "fat free" try low fat yogurt (the whole baby-steps concept) That might help with the missing cycle issue (also something I had to put up with). But certainly stick with therapy and what not because until you are really ready, any weight gain might set you back mentally.
It was with interest that I just finished reading this thread beginning to end. There seems to be some consensus that Ankh is underweight for her height. The lack of menses is likely due to her underweight condition but a good physical exam by a medical doctor should rule out any other health problem. The diet described is low in healthy fat, protein and non starchy vegetables. Tuna was mentioned and should be eaten only rarely because of toxic metal contamination. The large amount of sugars in a mostly fruit diet can play havoc with mental processes as blood sugar bounces up and down. Try eating fruit only after eating a protein/good fat meal as dessert. When used as a snack only when eaten with a handful of raw tree nuts or other protein/fat. While there seems to be some concern about weight gain there are some mixed messages there. As long a bulimia is not an issue this seems to have a promising outcome and I would hope her health care professional can suggest a diet based on natural proteins and fats along with vegetables and fruit that will provide enough calories to gain enough weight to promote a normal cycle.
in response to racehorse:you say my diet is low in non-starchy vegetables?i only eat non-starchy veggies when i eat veggies.
if i have to cut down on tuna and especially fruit,i dont think i'll have a diet anymore,because then i'll seriously have a major weight problem,since i feel that those foods are the foods helping me to maintain my weight.
i have seen a GP,and she didnt mention anything serious about my health(fortunately),this after having done tests and all.....so....basically,what i am trying to say,is that if i have to go on thinking about all the negative aspects of what i already eat(which is little,apparently) then i would be starving myself,since i wont be eating anything.i am trying to recover from an ed(therapist refers to anorexia,but i dont really agree),and at the moment i feel that i would need as much nutrients as i can get,so i dont know....i am confused even more now
but thanks for that good advice
Keep eating what you are eating and add whole grains and protein like nuts and seeds and things like potatoes in your diet. Boneless skinless chicken breasts are a good protein. I don't think everyone who replied to your post realized that you have an ED. Try not to think about it too much. Like Nike says Just do it.
Tuna doesn't need to be eaten occaisonally because of metal contamination. Studies have shown over and over again that the whole health scare about this went unfounded and that the amount of mercury actually in a can of tuna is very little. Unless you eat a can a day, you don't have to worry about anything. The veggies you eat are fine- all veggies are, starchy or not- they all contain good nutrients and eating a variety of all of them is optimal for good health. I'm not sure what kind of foods you eat, racehorse, but you seem to cross a lot off the list lol..
My advice would be to eat to hunger and eat as healthfully as you can- but don't deprive yourself. There are countless arguments about basically every fod in existance..from tuna to milk to fruits to veggies to anything. You're right- any time that you think about what you eat too much you will end up eating less because EVERYTHING is 'bad' according to somebody else. Just eat what you want, trying to choose healthy foods more often (fruits, veggies, whole grains, low fat dairy and protein, etc) and DO NOT WORRY about every food you take in. If you eat a variety of foods and eat to hunger, you will be healthy and happy.
Last edited by girlygirl11; 06-28-2005 at 03:44 PM.
Jessica:1,68m is 5ft5 and 47kg is 103.62 pounds....see..thats not too bad is it?
Girlygirl:no i dont get my period.....thats bad, i know....
well about the bran and fruit thing being the only carbs....that and milk(skim)and fatfree yoghurt?oh and veggies?thats it.....isnt that a lot of carbs though?i do eat a lot of bran(which by the way is starting to freak me out--->i read the sugar content of the kellogs all bran flakes and.....yes....not cool)
i'm sssoo frustrated,cos its 1 in the morning and i really feel like having fruit,but i feel that i shouldnt!
by the way:what is the recommended sugar content a product can have to not be "too much"?
Too much of any one thing is not good. It's called moderation. Here is an article By Dr. Chet Kim that talks about health problems related to eating too much fruit. Health issues will creep up on you as you get older..
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Good luck!
Last edited by m0d3; 08-19-2005 at 10:02 AM.
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Re: too much fruit? 
