Lose Weight & eat less(1000 kcals)

Greenmachine

Female body builder told to lose weight purely because of her bmi. While she is not my cup of tea for an intensive purposes she looks healthy.
My own doctor taught I looked my healthiest at my heaviest. (And my most active)

http://metro.co.uk/2014/03/26/a-picture-of-obesity-nhs-tells-bodybuilder-she-must-lose-weight-and-exercise-more-4679903/

superfit bodybuilder was branded overweight and put on a strict diet by an NHS nurse simply based on her BMI.

Anita Albrecht said she was told during a routine appointment she was ‘eating too much’ and needed to lose weight.

The 39-year-old, who works as a personal trainer, said her body mass index came out at 29 – four points over the healthy range and one short of obese.

But Ms Albrecht, who competes against some of the world’s leading bodybuilders, said the measure was distorted by her muscle-bound physique.

She said: ‘She insulted me by making assumptions about my lifestyle.

‘The information the nurse has given me is actually dangerous. A 1,000 calorie-a-day diet is only for people who are severely obese who are not active.

‘They should only be on that for a maximum of 12 weeks – generally as a precursor to surgery.’

BMI is worked out by dividing weight in kilograms by height in metres squared. But critics say it is flawed because it does not distinguish between fat and muscle, which is heavier.

Miss Albrecht, who is 1.5m (4ft 11in) tall and weighs about 66kg (10st), saw the nurse during an appointment about contraception at a family planning clinic in Harold Hill, east London.

She was told she needed to exercise more, eat less and to cut alcohol and fruit juice from her diet.

‘She put me on scales and clearly I’m a lot heavier than other women because of my height and I’m a bodybuilder,’ said Miss Albrecht.

‘For nine months of the year I don’t even drink as I am a competitive athlete. I felt insulted, was made to feel as though I was overweight, over eating and I felt a knock in my confidence.

‘When I tried to explain to her about body composition she wasn’t interested at all.’

NHS England declined to comment because of patient confidentiality. But its website concedes that athletes, such as rugby players, can be wrongly classed as overweight using BMI.

Body Mass Index is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by their height in metres squared.

The measurement was devised by Belgian mathematician Adolphe Quetelet while studying astronomy in 19th century France.

The student was inspired by stargazers who used probability to make their measurements as accurate as possible and decided to apply the same techniques to human features.

However, it wasn’t until the 1970s that researchers re-visited and supported his ‘Quetelet Index’ formula.

Stench Blossoms

Yeh I'm overweight according to BMI as well.

I'm ok with that.

Caliden

I don't understand how a nurse couldn't visible see that she wasn't obese.

I think BVI ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_volume_index ) should replace BMI as a realistic indicator of body fat but obviously it's harder to do.

shamrock55

Bmi is the biggest load of bull ever, ive never taken a blind bit of notice of bmi, all you have to do is look at rugby players if we were to believe the bmi theory then the likes of brian o driscoll and paul o connell are obese it should be done away with and never mentioned again

Hanley

BMI... for 99% of the population it's perfect.

Ask yourself some long hard questions before you decide it's not for you.

Here's a simple guide if the BMI scale says you're obese or overyweight;

Go to the gym a bit, but aren't really THAT strong (1.5x bodyweight squat minimum)? Yeah, you're fat.

Kinda look like you train when you still have your clothes on? You're probably doing ok.

Look like you train when you've your clothes off? Ignore it completely.

maguic24

Stench Blossoms wrote: »

Yeh I'm overweight according to BMI as well.

I'm ok with that.

So am I and I'm also okay with that.

Hanley

Side bar - I was at the doc last week, she took one look at me and said "so I won't be giving you the BMI speech then"

And continued on to say;

"...may as well give it to Brian O'Driscoll too right?"

I LAWL'd.

Stench Blossoms

Hanley wrote: »

Go to the gym a bit, but aren't really THAT strong (1.5x bodyweight squat minimum)? Yeah, you're fat.

AHHHH BOLLIX! 1.37

rubadub

Dunno who I should have a worse opinion of, the ignorant nurse or the publicity seeking bodybuilder sneering at the nurse's ignorance, knowing full well BMI does not apply to her yet claims to be insulted. In most cases I expect bodybuilders take it as a badge of honour, and would have a little laugh at being branded overweight or obese.

I wonder if a 1 legged paralympian would have been insulted if they were told their BMI was too low.

Sangre

rubadub wrote: »

Dunno who I should have a worse opinion of, the ignorant nurse or the publicity seeking bodybuilder sneering at the nurse's ignorance, knowing full well BMI does not apply to her yet claims to be insulted. In most cases I expect bodybuilders take it as a badge of honour, and would have a little laugh at being branded overweight or obese.

I wonder if a 1 legged paralympian would have been insulted if they were told their BMI was too low.

Generally I'd agree but such an incorrect diagnosis may potentially impact on someone's ability to undertake certain treatments or use certain medications.

Mellor

shamrock55 wrote: »

Bmi is the biggest load of bull ever, ive never taken a blind bit of notice of bmi, all you have to do is look at rugby players if we were to believe the bmi theory then the likes of brian o driscoll and paul o connell are obese it should be done away with and never mentioned again

It really isn't bull tbh. It's intended to assess large populations not individuals. The caveat that it may not apply to the athletic minority has always existed.
Just because some people misapply it doesn't mean its useless.

Peple like Brian O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell are rare, and don;t affect the national average. I bet there are far more overweight people convincing themselves BMI doesn't to them because the work out a little bit.

Sangre wrote: »

Generally I'd agree but such an incorrect diagnosis may potentially impact on someone's ability to undertake certain treatments or use certain medications.

If someone is genuinely of a build where BMI doesn't apply, they didn't get like that by accident. So it's probably save to assume that they'll be aware of their nutrition and that BMI isn't for them.

rubadub

Sangre wrote: »

such an incorrect diagnosis may potentially impact on someone's ability to undertake certain treatments or use certain medications.

If it was serious treatment or meds I expect a doctor would see her, not just 1 single nurse.

It even said

NHS England declined to comment because of patient confidentiality. But its website concedes that athletes, such as rugby players, can be wrongly classed as overweight using BMI.

She only had a BMI of 29, you often hear of "all the irish rugby team" being deemed obese, I looked up a page of stats and I think only 1 or 2 could have been, and these guys certainly did look like they could do with losing some fat. Others were in the normal range or overweight range.

Its not like some fit guy is going to end up getting a gastric band or something.

Some people take great offence at the word "obese", they are picturing the super obese people on tv programs, carried to hospital on the back of haulage trucks etc. While if they saw a picture of someone who is clinically obese they would call them "a bit tubby". I would say most restricted treatments or meds do not kick in until they are in the next bracket, past obese, be it super or morbidly obese.

Alf Veedersane

If your BMI is high, you're just too short.

Don't worry about it.

Sangre

Mellor wrote: »

If someone is genuinely of a build where BMI doesn't apply, they didn't get like that by accident. So it's probably save to assume that they'll be aware of their nutrition and that BMI isn't for them.

That wasn't the point I was getting at. The risk I was alluding to was a doctor refusing to prescribe a particular medicine due to a patient's BMI (notwithstanding body composition). The patient can't control that. Pretty unlikey I know but I also would have said the same about this story happening in the first place.

Mellor

Sangre wrote: »

That wasn't the point I was getting at. The risk I was alluding to was a doctor refusing to prescribe a particular medicine due to a patient's BMI (notwithstanding body composition). The patient can't control that. Pretty unlikey I know but I also would have said the same about this story happening in the first place.

I'd assume a doctor would understand bmi a bit better, if they didn't I would want any treatment from them tbh.
Regardless, is there even any medication that an overweight person wouldn't receive?
I know before bariatric surgery people need to lose weight, but it's going to apply to anyone who isn't actually carrying a lot of fat.

Penny Tration

Mellor wrote: »

I'd assume a doctor would understand bmi a bit better, if they didn't I would want any treatment from them tbh.
Regardless, is there even any medication that an overweight person wouldn't receive?
I know before bariatric surgery people need to lose weight, but it's going to apply to anyone who isn't actually carrying a lot of fat.

If you're over a certain weight, doctors will not prescribe the contraceptive pill. My friend was refused it based purely on her weight being over 100kg.

Sangre

Mellor wrote: »

I'd assume a doctor would understand bmi a bit better, if they didn't I would want any treatment from them tbh.
Regardless, is there even any medication that an overweight person wouldn't receive?
I know before bariatric surgery people need to lose weight, but it's going to apply to anyone who isn't actually carrying a lot of fat.

Couldn't tell you! I am not a BMI hater by any stretch but I would be worried if any medical practitioner misdisagnosed me because of it. Particularly in the UK where you're in the NHS and have far less control over your doctor (unless you go private which is a pretty uncommon).

PauloMN

Have to say, anytime I've heard the "BMI is bull****" mantra, it usually is overweight people to whom it very much does apply.

It is spot on in my case, and for the vast majority of people who are not built like tanks in terms of muscle.

Always laugh myself when I hear clearly overweight people discrediting the BMI system and trying to compare themselves to rugby players etc..

Face facts, it's very obvious if you are overweight and unfit, admitting the problem is the first step to resolving it.

Alf Veedersane

Mellor wrote: »

I'd assume a doctor would understand bmi a bit better, if they didn't I would want any treatment from them tbh.

The BMI is a rough guide. If a doctor forms an opinion or diagnosis based solely on a BMI, then you're legally* entitled to your money back.






* You may not be legally entitled to your money back.

rubadub

green_screen wrote: »

My friend was refused it based purely on her weight being over 100kg.

Your friend would have to be 6ft 1' and exactly 100kg for her BMI to match the bodybuilder in the link.

Current guidelines from the Faculty of Family Planning warn against prescribing the combined Pill to women with a BMI over 35.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-427096/Pill-health-risk-times-higher-obese-women.html#ixzz2xFsIHHHI
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At 100kg you need to be 5 foot 6 to be 35+

Penny Tration

rubadub wrote: »

Your friend would have to be 6ft 1' and exactly 100kg for her BMI to match the bodybuilder in the link.



At 100kg you need to be 5 foot 6 to be 35+

I didn't mention her BMI, her BMI is through the roof (she's 4'7).

It was in response to someone asking are there medications you can be refused based on your weight/bmi.

Mellor

Sangre wrote: »

Couldn't tell you! I am not a BMI hater by any stretch but I would be worried if any medical practitioner misdisagnosed me because of it.

Yeah of course. It's certainly not good that the nurse made this mistake but I imagine it was a fairly irrelevant check up. If it were going to discuss.

green_screen wrote: »

If you're over a certain weight, doctors will not prescribe the contraceptive pill. My friend was refused it based purely on her weight being over 100kg.

That's because it's not as effective if you are overweight. It's unlikely that your friend is 100kg and not carrying extra fat.
The body builder in the OP was 66kg. I imagine 100kg+ female bodybuilders don't need to worry about contraceptive.

Penny Tration

Mellor wrote: »

Yeah of course. It's certainly not good that the nurse made this mistake but I imagine it was a fairly irrelevant check up. If it were going to discuss.


That's because it's not as effective if you are overweight. It's unlikely that your friend is 100kg and not carrying extra fat.
The body builder in the OP was 66kg. I imagine 100kg+ female bodybuilders don't need to worry about contraceptive.

I know that. I was just responding to the post asking do doctors actually stop prescribing certain medications if bmi is high. Not disagreeing with it in practise.

colman1212

If you're BMI is bad, get you're body fat done (with a callipers by someone who knows what they are doing). If your body fat is bad, then yes you are fat. Simple as.

Alf Veedersane

colman1212 wrote: »

If you're BMI is bad, get you're body fat done (with a callipers by someone who knows what they are doing). If your body fat is bad, then yes you are fat. Simple as.

If your BMI is high, it probably won't be necessary to get a bodyfat calculation to know if what it's suggesting is reasonably accurate or not.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Hanley wrote: »

Side bar - I was at the doc last week, she took one look at me and said "so I won't be giving you the BMI speech then"

And continued on to say;

"...may as well give it to Brian O'Driscoll too right?"

I LAWL'd.

Humblebrag

A_Sober_Paddy

Wouldn't body fat percentage not be a better indicator of health?

My BMI is 25 but BF% around 14%

rubadub

A_Sober_Paddy wrote: »

Wouldn't body fat percentage not be a better indicator of health?

It is harder to measure, with the same readings I put them into 2 forumlas and got something like 12% and 18%, so its not even a case of the same person reading them right.

I imagine the idiot nurse in the link could manage to get a reading of 110% bodyfat and be paging for a mortician.

Simple way to check -next time a young lad in a group of scumbags asks you for a lighter tell them "I don't smoke, its bad for your health", if he tells you to "f*ck off you fat bastard", then you're fat. Your mammy is less likely to mention it.

I seriously did have something like that happen to me, some drunk kids roaring abuse for some unknown reason, I was looking around to see the fat lad they were roaring at and copped it must have been me!

Or just get a mirror.

Alf Veedersane

A_Sober_Paddy wrote: »

Wouldn't body fat percentage not be a better indicator of health?

My BMI is 25 but BF% around 14%

It depends. If the doctor was assessing you via an email exchange, then possibly.

Your BMI isn't high so I would imagine that a doctor assessing you in person wouldn't have any reason to calculate your BMI or dust off the calipers.

Alf Veedersane

rubadub wrote: »

Simple way to check -next time a young lad in a group of scumbags asks you for a lighter tell them "I don't smoke, its bad for your health", if he tells you to "f*ck off you fat bastard", then you're fat. Your mammy is less likely to mention it.

Not necessarily true.

Centre half on my football team is from Tallaght. He soundsl ike he's from Tallaght.

He was told to "fook off you fooking cow tipper" by some scrote from another Dublin team.

Even the ref laughed in bemusement.

The moral of the story: not all scumbags are fountains of wisdom. They may be less accurate than your BMI.

A_Sober_Paddy

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

It depends. If the doctor was assessing you via an email exchange, then possibly.

Your BMI isn't high so I would imagine that a doctor assessing you in person wouldn't have any reason to calculate your BMI or dust off the calipers.

Well to be honest I'm starting to get the "oh don't loss anymore weight now" line in the last week...I'm 81kg I could defo get myself down to 78 which would be a nice roundish number

Alf Veedersane

A_Sober_Paddy wrote: »

Well to be honest I'm starting to get the "oh don't loss anymore weight now" line in the last week...I'm 81kg I could defo get myself down to 78 which would be a nice roundish number

Then I wouldn't worry about your BMI or your bodyfat %.

rubadub

green_screen wrote: »

I didn't mention her BMI, her BMI is through the roof (she's 4'7).

It was in response to someone asking are there medications you can be refused based on your weight/bmi.

Yes, but he seemed to be specifically talking about the possibility of being refused if you are in the overweight category though, which is usually said to be a BMI under 30. I can see you probably thought he meant overweight in general.

Mellor wrote: »

Regardless, is there even any medication that an overweight person wouldn't receive?
I know before bariatric surgery people need to lose weight, but it's going to apply to anyone who isn't actually carrying a lot of fat.

I was saying your friend would have to be 6 foot 1 to match this, which would be deemed overweight, but I doubt she would have been refused if she was 6 foot 1 and 100kg. Just like I doubt any bodybuilders are in danger of being refused treatment.

If your friend is over 100kg and 4' 7'' that is a BMI of at least 51.2, and so well above the highest classification, in which case its a different ball game.

Overweight from 25 to 30 from 1.0 to 1.2
Obese Class I (Moderately obese) from 30 to 35 from 1.2 to 1.4
Obese Class II (Severely obese) from 35 to 40 from 1.4 to 1.6
Obese Class III (Very severely obese) over 40 over 1.6

Mellor

rubadub wrote: »

Yes, but he seemed to be specifically talking about the possibility of being refused if you are in the overweight category though, which is usually said to be a BMI under 30. I can see you probably thought he meant overweight in general.

Exactly.
Bariatric surgery, unsuitable for the pill, these are genuine reasons where weight is an issue. I can't see anyone, due to muscle mass, getting the wrong advice in error there.