Weight Chart

[JudyNY]

Those charts do not factor in actual body type and other life factors- excess skin has weight- either from the weight loss its self or from other things like having kids. Skin doesn't just go away.

That is a very good point!!

 

[Kayleigh]

The reason they’re important to me is because I don’t want my primary care physician labeling me as “overweight”. I’ve gone through a lot this past year and suffered physically and emotionally from morbid obesity.

 

[JudyNY]

I would love not to be in the obese category. Overweight I can handle, although I would like to be out of that too if I could.

 

[Tokash]

The reason they’re important to me is because I don’t want my primary care physician labeling me as “overweight”. I’ve gone through a lot this past year and suffered physically and emotionally from morbid obesity.

If your primary is doing this, its time to get a new primary

 

[WazzuCoug]

If your primary is doing this, its time to get a new primary

100% No primary should be using BMI to categorize anyone, or really any other chart. There are many things that influence health. You should search for a primary who doesn't lump people into groups based on a list of numbers.

 

[3momchaos]

If your primary is doing this, its time to get a new primary

I was obese the entire time I was with my last primary-16ish years, then she retired, and never did she once bring up my BMI. She talked about my blood test results, and when I brought up my weight we talked about it, but I was always a “healthy” and active obese person. My new primary didn’t either, but I also lead that appointment with the fact that’s I’d already started the process for weight loss surgery.

 

[Tokash]

I was obese the entire time I was with my last primary-16ish years, then she retired, and never did she once bring up my BMI. She talked about my blood test results, and when I brought up my weight we talked about it, but I was always a “healthy” and active obese person. My new primary didn’t either, but I also lead that appointment with the fact that’s I’d already started the process for weight loss surgery.

This is kind of how my primary is, however I didnt tell her about the surgery until after the fact because I didn't think she would approve as she is very holistic in nature. We would have conversations about weight but she was never really worried because everything else pointed to be healthy....blood work ect. She was pretty focus on get other parts of life healthier before looking at weight, which I agree if we are not all around stable the weight will be a struggle.

 

[3momchaos]

This is kind of how my primary is, however I didnt tell her about the surgery until after the fact because I didn't think she would approve as she is very holistic in nature. We would have conversations about weight but she was never really worried because everything else pointed to be healthy....blood work ect. She was pretty focus on get other parts of life healthier before looking at weight, which I agree if we are not all around stable the weight will be a struggle.

I’m not sure how my old primary would have reacted, but my new one was all for it. My endocrinologist was a little hesitant because he’s more worried about the long lasting effects of vitamin deficiency. But I take my vitamins like I’m supposed to and follow the directions of my surgeon. I think he’ll be pleasantly surprised at my annual visit next month.

 

[JGranger]

I’m not sure how my old primary would have reacted, but my new one was all for it. My endocrinologist was a little hesitant because he’s more worried about the long lasting effects of vitamin deficiency. But I take my vitamins like I’m supposed to and follow the directions of my surgeon. I think he’ll be pleasantly surprised at my annual visit next month.

My surgeon wanted my primary to sign off on the surgery before he would proceed. My primary did so without hesitation, and was happy that I was taking a positive step for my health. He had talked to me over the years about my weight and gave me things to do, and they all worked (temporarily). I just had a telemedicine checkup with him yesterday and he is thrilled at my progress! He also took me off one of my meds (Atorvastatin), so I am now down to one medication (Vascepa, also for cholesterol). I have been going to the same primary for over 20 years, and I guess I started to take for granted how much I appreciate him and his genuine concern for my health.

 

[Kayleigh]

I decided to focus on relative fat mass rather than weight. Body types can vary so much with regard to weight and most bariatric clinics and insurance companies still use BMI, which is a complete BS system with absolutely no scientific validity. However, there is a lot of research about the effects of body fat on the body, so I chose to look at that.

The weight goal that I usually list is just a guess of where I'll be percentage wise. If I was going my most of the weight charts out there, I'd have to get down to about 158 or something, which is 20lbs lighter than I was when I was in the Marine Corps and in the best shape of my life at age 20.

I'm currently at 220 lbs, and my relative fat mass is 25.11 - which is just above "average." My goal is to get below 19, which would put me in the "fitness" category, but I'll certainly be happy to be well within the "average" range and not the obese range.

Relative fat mass is easy to calculate based on height and waist circumference using this calculator: Relative Fat Mass (RFM) Calculator

Studies have shown this to be way more accurate than other weight charts, and even similar accuracy to a body scan. It matches almost exactly with my scale that tracks body fat, which also matched up very closely to the body scan I get when I visit the bariatric clinic, so I feel pretty confident about the numbers and basing my goals on that instead of weight charts, per se.

I may not even need to get into "onederland" and be in a good range for me, although I suspect to get to the "fitness" level, I will probably need to be under 200 for my body. Other people will be different, obviously.

I haven’t been measuring myself, but I’ve dropped several sizes so that reassuring to me. My surgery center suggested that I weigh myself weekly and record my weight in my Baritastic Ap, which I’ve been doing. Thank you for the website suggestion. It also takes into account body measurements.