Who are you calling fat?

[Demi]

BBC News Online Magazine
London, UK
12 October, 2006


Britain is the fattest country in Europe and part of the problem is people don't realise they are overweight, says the government. So what does obesity look like?

How hard can it really be? The rolls of surplus flesh, the tight waistband, not being able to see your own feet - you don't need to be a rocket scientist to work out you're carrying extra pounds.

But many people don't consider themselves overweight, according to fitness minister Caroline Flint, who says it's one reason why nearly a quarter of adults in the UK are obese.

The government and doctors use the body mass index (BMI) to assess a person's condition; classing us as "underweight, ok, overweight, obese or clinically obese". The calculation is based on comparing a person's weight with their height and does not take into account sex or the proportion of body fat to muscle.

Some medical bodies, including the World Health Organization, say waist size is a more accurate measure, but the government has no plans to ditch the BMI.

"We are aware of criticism and that there has been talk of the hip-to-waist ratio, but this is the agreed system and we will continue to use it," says a Department of Health spokeswoman.

So what does obesity look like? The Magazine headed to Stratford, east London, to break the unhappy news to some unsuspecting men, who significantly outnumber women in the fight against fat.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6040156.stm

Click the link above to view the rest of the article and the reactions of the men interviewed.

[potatofree]

The link to the rest of the article didn't work....

How many of us had that one big "OMG!" moment when we woke up and realized we were THAT overweight? <raises hand> You bet the signs listed are a clue, but when you try hard enough NOT to see something, you can get pretty darn good at it.

[Demi]

It works for me, but I'll post the rest of the article here with the pics, in case others can't see it either:


http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42188000/jpg/_42188080_men.416.jpg

Four of these men are obese - but didn't know it, until we stepped in


ZAC GOBI - 6FT 4INS - 18 STONE - OFFICALLY OBESE

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/magazine_enl_1160646885/img/1.jpg

"Obese! Not even just overweight. That is a bit of a shock. I think it's ridiculous, I'm 6ft 4ins so I'm never going to be as light as a feather. I think my weight is fine for my height.

"To get to the weight slap in the middle of what the index says is right for a man of my height I would have to lose around five stone. That's madness, I'd look ill and as if I had a massive head.

"I eat one big meal a day, it is a really big meal - maybe a whole chicken, rice and peas.

I think the amount I eat and my diet is good. There is a problem with weight in this country but the index is confusing. It doesn't take into account things like muscle."


BILLY MURRELL - 5FT 8INS - 14 STONE - OFFICALLY OBESE

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/health_enl_1160647986/img/1.jpg

"No way. I don't agree with that - it's crazy. I know I'm carrying a few extra pounds and I am having a cheeseburger for breakfast, but obese? I'm just eating this to kill a bit of time before an appointment, I don't usually have a burger for breakfast.

"That classification isn't any good because it doesn't take into account my body frame, muscle or what sex I am, all of which make a difference.

"I'd have to lose around three stone for the government to think I'm the right weight, That's just stupid. I'd look ill and I probably would be ill.

"I know the government has to have a way to measure weight, but this is not it. They need to look at things again."


ANDY WOOD - 6FT 2INS - 16ST 11LBS - OFFICALLY OBESE

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/magazine_enl_1160646523/img/1.jpg

"I know I'm carrying a little bit of extra weight but I'm not obese. I think I am a fair weight for my height and build.

"The BMI doesn't take into account things like muscle, which is important. It would class most rugby players and footballers as obese and look how fit they are.

"According to the index my healthy weight is around 12 to 13 stone, but I actually think that is underweight for my height.

"There is a problem with obesity in this country, people don't eat well or look after themselves. But using the BMI is not the right way of assessing the problem, it's not very helpful."


BRIAN MANSFIELD - 5FT 11INS - 17 STONE - OFFICALLY OBESE

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/magazine_enl_1160648298/img/1.jpg

"I knew it would have me as obese. I know I am packing a few extra pounds, but I don't consider myself obese.

"I'm big boned but the index doesn't take that into account and it should. I do drive a cab, which means I'm sitting on my bum all day but I wouldn't say I was unhealthy.

"I have lost weight in recent months. I did it by eating healthily, my wife does all that stuff - salads and that. She looks after me very well.

"The BMI is not a helpful way of calculating who's overweight and not. The problem is if people don't trust it they're not going to trust what else the government says about being healthy."


LEE EMBERY - 6FT 2INS - 15 STONE - OFFICALLY OVERWEIGHT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/magazine_enl_1160647630/img/1.jpg

"I think that's a bit harsh. I know I could do with losing some weight, but only a few pounds.

"I'd have to lose about two stone to get to what the government thinks is the ideal weight for me. It's ridiculous, I would look ill, look like a skeleton. I would not look healthy.

"I know there are some things about my eating habits that I could change but on the whole I don't consider myself unhealthy.

"I'd like to see what some of those government ministers are classed as using this index. I would like to see how they react to being called fat."

[NewRuth]

Zac Goby, Billy Murrell & Lee Embery - examples of how the BMI just might not be the best choice. Buuutt...

Some medical bodies, including the World Health Organization, say waist size is a more accurate measure, but the government has no plans to ditch the BMI.

"We are aware of criticism and that there has been talk of the hip-to-waist ratio, but this is the agreed system and we will continue to use it," says a Department of Health spokeswoman.

"We've always done it this way"

Gotta "luv" government :help:

[Snow_White]

Wow, so THAT'S the base of this "obesity epidemic"??? Give me a break! Those guys look fine! This is beyond ridiculous. :/

[Demi]

Wow, so THAT'S the base of this "obesity epidemic"??? Give me a break! Those guys look fine! This is beyond ridiculous. :/
My thoughts exactly, which is why I posted the article.

[Svetlana]

"We are aware of criticism and that there has been talk of the hip-to-waist ratio, but this is the agreed system and we will continue to use it," says a Department of Health spokeswoman.
This made me smile. :lol:

The BMI is rubbish. I haven't bothered with the BMI charts in years. My BMI doesn't see what I see in the mirror, can't pinch the fat I can pinch, can't tell how little muscle mass I have, and can't calculate my body fat %, so how can I trust it to figure out if I'm healthy or not?

Zac Billy and Lee don't look obese to me... might be considered overweight but their clothes make it hard to tell if that's muscle, fat, or a big frame... The third guy though, Andy Woods, probably falls into the category of unaware people referred to in the article... I don't think you can carry that big an abdomen around and call yourself a fair weight...

[LiveWell]

Theres only one guy on there that looks like he needs to lose some weight.. the others look normal. They DARN sure dont look OBESE.

[Rheneas]

BMI is so ineffectual as a standard measurement, the whole of the Welsh national rugby team is morbidly obese by BMI standards which just shows what a joke it is yet the authorities who determine how to treat you still use BMI as a guide. Ridiculous.

[Dodger]

Based on the pictures, it seems that the people were weighed with outdoor clothes on. This would give a higher weight by 10 or more pounds.

[Bat Spit]

BMI is so ineffectual as a standard measurement, the whole of the Welsh national rugby team is morbidly obese by BMI standards which just shows what a joke it is yet the authorities who determine how to treat you still use BMI as a guide.

Almost every Hollywood A list male actor would also be classified as obese. How stupid is that? Also most pro sports figures.

"We are aware of criticism and that there has been talk of the hip-to-waist ratio, but this is the agreed system and we will continue to use it," says a Department of Health spokeswoman.

This is beyond stupid. If everyone on the street knows that BMI doesn't take into account a lot of important considerations, they're going to ignore it. All this does is hurt those who actually do need to lose some weight and could use the wakeup call.

[SunnyCarol]

Some medical bodies, including the World Health Organization, say waist size is a more accurate measure, but the government has no plans to ditch the BMI.

"We are aware of criticism and that there has been talk of the hip-to-waist ratio, but this is the agreed system and we will continue to use it," says a Department of Health spokeswoman. If you go by the BMI, I am considered obese at 191 pounds and 5' 5" tall. If you go by the waist measurement, I'm no longer obese because my waist measures 34 inches. If you go by the hip-to-waist ratio, I'm back to being obese, since I have very narrow hips and no butt, to speak of. None of the these ways of deciding if I'm obese, over weight or okay takes into consideration the fact that I have an exceptionally large frame and have a lot of fat on my thighs and upper arms and a very large bust.

Sunny!

[Nancy LC]

Lets face it, the only way to tell if you're overweight or not is to have your body rendered down to a puddle of fat. Then they can measure how much body fat you had and judge. :p

[gryfonclaw]

Heck, I've had people come up to me ("OMG YOU'RE SO SKINNY NOW") and try to guess my weight. My boyfriend's mother said to me the other night, "What do weigh now, 155?"

Me: "I wish. I'm at 185."

According to BMI, even after a 30 pound weight loss so far, I am still 30 pounds overweight. Yeah, it's real accurate.

But it's nice that people think I weigh less than I actually do. :thup:

[KvonM]

most of the comments on that article agreed with us, but the ones that got me were the "just stop eating pies and you'll be fine" and the "big boned has nothing to do with it" bits... obviously written by the ones who have never had issues with their weight. the part about bones only being 15% of someone's total weight may be true, but larger bones mean a larger frame and that means more muscle mass, which means higher weight for the height.

[Atrsy]

I think they've upped the weights in the US height/weight tables because so many Americans are overweight. In fact, when I sit and watch a crowd of people, I sometimes actually feel thin.

Don't the British even give a little for age? That is totally senseless! I could never hope to look like I did when I was 25.

[Angeline]

It's interesting that all the pictures are of men. I bet you anything that if the pictures had been of women, they wouldn't have denied being overweight as readily and vehemently as the men. Probably would have gone home and started a diet, no matter how normal their weight were.

Women are much harder on themselves.

[TarHeel]

My computer settings are refusing to show me the pictures, but I'm sorry.....just looking at height and weight make the guys sound at least overweight, if not obese, regardless of muscle and bone mass. At least if I'm right in thinking that one stone is equal to 14 pounds.

I suppose if you're a wrestler or soccer or football player, it would be reasonable to weigh a little over 200 pounds at six feet. But most physically active men I know who look to be a healthy, normal weight at six feet weigh far less. Much closer to 180. And my friends tend to be older. Let's not kid ourselves too much here.

Kay

[bsenka]

I could never hope to look like I did when I was 25.

Sure you can! Last spring, I was the heaviest I'd even been in my adult life. Now, I'm the lightest. Even in grade 12, I weighed more than I do now. If I can do it, ANYONE can.

Back to topic:

BMI is the worst fitness measuring system there is. The information it gives you is useless at best, and flat out false at worst.

[LilithD]

I'm amazed! I didn't think any of them looked obese, and only Andy somewhat overweight. I knew the BMI was stupid for well-muscled and large-framed people, but it looks to be useless for quite normal looking people.

Well, I'll know to stop listening when they go on about the 'obesity epidemic'!! It's another governmental 'take tax to make work' issue.

[mzsunrize]

People in general are getting taller with every generation, wouldn't they be heavier too? I mean the BMI was calculated the 1830s!

NEways, after several generations of abundance, we're are just bigger in general.

Maybe the BMI is just out dated....or it was wrong to begin with, I donno.

BTW--when is looking sickly and frail going to go out of style? LOL. I mean, how hard is it REALLY for fashion designers to start using curvier, healthy looking women for models?

[pennink]

There was a movement about a decade ago in which all the rage was to be fit and firm, not skinny. I think it's still with us. Except for Calista Flockhart, there are very few stars who are skinny. I'd say most are fit. Sure, they're tiny (but even the guys are ... very short, you wouldn't believe it), but they look healthy in person, not bone racks.
I have a teen daughter, and all her friends look at musicians and stars, not runway models. They keel over laughing at their ridiculousness. Pink, the musician, is really helping to change some attitudes, too. In my experience, perhaps it's just in my area, there's a more healthy attitude about image from the kids in highschool right now. The media loves to report the interesting, not the averages.