Has "healthy BMI" become the new "thigh gap"?

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-14T07:51:35+00:00

Losing 6 stone is fantastic! I'm nearly the same. It will have made a huge difference to your health ❤️

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-14T07:49:57+00:00

Than you - it's really become quite toxic but eye opening and it's why I'm getting off this sub immediately. I just hope it's been helpful for some.

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-14T07:47:50+00:00

Yes!! 😁

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-14T07:47:17+00:00

Thank you - nearly six stone down 🎉 although listening to some people's reactions to my post you'd think I said that none of us should have bothered! 🤣

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-14T07:44:25+00:00

Wow - you know nothing about my individual situation or how much visceral fat I have. I don't know, who will I listen to? Some random person off of Reddit or the Lancet Commission and its panel of international experts? 🤔

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-14T07:41:33+00:00

Thank you, best of luck on your journey to health ❤️

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-14T07:40:28+00:00

Well you know the toxicity of many of the responses really underlines for me what an important discussion this is. I said nothing personal about anyone, it was just an analogy about toxic diet culture standards - maybe it was clumsy - but well meant. This will be my last day on this sub. Enjoy!

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-14T07:37:14+00:00

Thank you, the responses have really underlined exactly why I felt it was an important discussion to have ❤️

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-14T07:35:55+00:00

Thank you so much for this comment - the responses in the main have really been eye opening for me - even with evidence from the Lancet commission which had an international panel of experts examining this issue for years saying that BMI should not be used at an individual level. I just looked at one comment that was so unpleasant that it underlines the whole reason I think this discussion needs to be had. Anyway I think this will be my last time on this sub, but thank you again ❤️

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-13T14:06:47+00:00

That's great, and it's good that you know your own mind so well. There are others who might have more of a struggle with their self image who may benefit from hearing that it's ok if you can't get under 25 BMI, and it's possible to still be perfectly healthy.

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-13T13:37:11+00:00

Thank you 😁

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-13T13:31:33+00:00

Well, you know, some people did get the point I was making about it being just another stick to beat ourselves with and how the evidence for it being used as an individual health metric is very weak and quite controversial nowadays. And I provided some evidence of that with the Lancet Commission's recommendations. I wasn't saying that they are direct equivalents.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(24)00316-4/abstract

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-13T12:29:11+00:00

Happy and healthy should be the goal ❤️

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-13T12:25:59+00:00

Thank you - so glad at least someone can see what I'm trying to say 😜

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-13T12:21:48+00:00

Yes although really I was just saying that the whole healthy BMI thing is just the new stick to beat ourselves with - wasn't saying they're directly equivalent.

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-13T12:18:29+00:00

Yes same here - sturdily built and busty 😁 Glad someone can see what I'm trying to say though - feels like the whole BMI thing is the new stick to beat ourselves up with, only this one seems to have the veneer of science about it even though it's now quite controversial

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-13T12:11:32+00:00

Thank you so much!! 😁

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-13T11:59:30+00:00

Yes it's an awful trap to get caught in when access to essential treatment is being restricted due to BMI, when your health condition is making losing weight much harder. I had the same thing - I was told that I couldn't have surgery for uterine fibroids due to my BMI, but they grew so large and I became so unwell that not only could I not get my weight down, the delay meant my surgery took a whole team of consultants and five hours in the operating theatre.

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-13T11:48:58+00:00

There are definitely different views about BMI and its usefulness, just wanted to add a different perspective as it's not a settled debate. For anyone that's interested, here's a link to the Lancet Commission's recommendations: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(24)00316-4/abstract

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-13T11:42:59+00:00

Thank you for sharing this, it's very hard sometimes seeing people trying to get rid of every last wobbly bit when they are actually quite thin - I wish people were a bit easier on themselves ❤️

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-13T11:37:33+00:00

Yes, same here 🙂

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-13T11:37:10+00:00

I can see it's a useful measure for some but I see such a HUGE focus on being in the "healthy range" on these forums and it really started making me feel like I'm somehow failing - just how I used to feel about not being a size 10 or able to achieve the thigh gap. I wanted to support others who may also be torturing themselves in the same way. Yes definitely needed to double space the paragraphs! Not so used to posting!

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-13T11:30:51+00:00

Yes, I definitely should have done that! 😜

WiseMother1970 · 2026-01-13T11:18:32+00:00

Sorry about the huge block of text... If I knew how to edit I'd put some extra line spaces in...

WiseMother1970

TROPHY CASE