NHS BMI calculator vs Smart BMI calculator 🍎 - NRAS

NRAS

37,286 members46,149 posts

NHS BMI calculator vs Smart BMI calculator 🍎

Moomin8 profile image
24 Replies

nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-we...

smartbmicalculator.com/

Hi Peeps 🙂

I have been trying to work on my fitness and weight to improve my health, regarding cholesterol levels and RA. I looked on the NHS bmi calculator and to have a healthy bmi, I would have to lose shed loads of weight 🤔 Now, I am an optimist, generally, but I am not a magician! 😅 So, I thought....surely, this is too generalised. I am lucky to have had 3 children and am not a spring chicken anymore, so my bmi doesn't need to be 25. I looked and found an alternative bmi calculator; a smart bmi calculator. I'm actually in the green on that one! 🥳 I'm sticking with that. 🥳But still going to work on my fitness and healthy eating.

Written by
Moomin8 profile image
Moomin8
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
24 Replies
NannyNooNoo profile image
NannyNooNoo

Ooh, I’ve just done mine - soooooo much more reassuring than the NHS one! I know I need to lose a bit, but the NHS response sends you into a real ‘OMG the end is nigh’ moment! Like you, I’ll carry on trying to eat healthily & exercise though x

Moomin8 profile image
Moomin8 in reply toNannyNooNoo

Yes, I agree! The NHS one made me feel reet miserable 😅

Lolabridge profile image
Lolabridge

The standard way to calculate BMI is to divide your weight (in kilograms) by the square of your height (in metres) 🤓. The value obtained should not be different on any website, although the interpretation of it may be. 🙄

I'm not going to work out mine until I finish the Prednisolone next week and can start trying to lose weight again. Having short legs is a distinct disadvantage too! ☹️

Moomin8 profile image
Moomin8 in reply toLolabridge

Hope you're feeling a little better soon.

Lolabridge profile image
Lolabridge in reply toMoomin8

Thanks Moonin and I hope you’re doing ok too.

Jewels94 profile image
Jewels94

Thank you for posting that. I’ve been feeling really miserable about my weight as I’ve put so much on after the past couple of years, due in part to steroids. This made me feel so much better as apparently I’m at a healthy weight. Still not happy with my weight though, but at least it’s not as bad as I thought

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix

Don’t understand? Your BMI is your BMI no matter what website you use to calculate it. So are you saying that the other website says that people with a BMI over 25 are ok?

I remember reading that older people are “allowed” to be a bit heavier tho’.

I tend to go on how I feel tho’, rather than a calculated figure.

Moomin8 profile image
Moomin8 in reply tohelixhelix

No, I'm not saying that per se. I just feel that it is somewhat outdated.

This makes an interesting read:

sciencefocus.com/comment/bm...

Personally, I think it is very important to be mindful of our health and what we eat, so will continue to try my best to follow a healthy and mindful path.

in reply tohelixhelix

Whilst I accept and agree that BMI has limitations, I couldn’t make any sense at all of the reasoning as to why they’re saying their interpretation of health risk is more appropriate than the standard. My BMI is very slightly higher using the SBMI (25.1 vs 24.8), but whereas technically I’m overweight at 25.1, it says I’m healthy. Given that being overweight is more about the mental and emotional relationship with food than anything, and that denial is an issue, this mismatch without adequate explanation as to why it’s healthy and the NHS interpretation is wrong concerns me. I’m not actually overweight in so far as I’m maintaining the 10st weight loss I achieved 5 years ago and have at least half a stone excess skin, so I’ll take 25.1 and be happy with it, but I do worry it’s false reassurance for others. Playing around with it, I could gain 10 pounds and still be considered healthy according to the SBMI, but my BMI would be 27. If that was 10 pounds of abdominal gain, which my gain tends to be as I have a metabolic disorder, there is no way that would be an acceptable and healthy place to be.

Moomin8 profile image
Moomin8 in reply to

I do understand what you are saying. Thank you for taking the time to reply. And well done with your amazing achievement 🙂

in reply tohelixhelix

how you feel….That’s how I do it

AgedCrone profile image
AgedCrone in reply to

Yep…..if the Zip slides up without breathing in …..you’re OK!

Moomin8 profile image
Moomin8 in reply toAgedCrone

😂😂😂😂

AgedCrone profile image
AgedCrone in reply toMoomin8

👍👍👍

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase

Just done mine too. Love that smart calculator! I’m the same as you - there’s room for improvement and I’d really like to lose 2.5 - 3.5 kg but I’m a size 10-12 which is good.My BMA is the same for both charts - the difference is in how they interpret that figure.

I’m still going to work on myself to get within the green on the NHS one too though but it is cheering to see what the smart chart says 😊.

Moomin8 profile image
Moomin8 in reply toFruitandnutcase

Good for you 😊As you say - they both give the same BMI reading, they just give (in my opinion) a more realistic interpretation.

Flinda profile image
Flinda

Why is it that when my fridge is full of salad food I tend to visit the fish n chip shop? Very odd, but true. x

Moomin8 profile image
Moomin8 in reply toFlinda

😂😂I think it's because you need to pre-prepare your salad so that it is more like having a takeaway 😉

Boxerlady profile image
Boxerlady in reply toFlinda

I'd try buying a smaller portion at the fish and chip shop and having a salad with it. When I had IBS problems with fried food and hubby fancied fish and chips, I used to have the fish with frozen peas I cooked at home (don't like mushy peas) and leave the batter - it's just liked steamed fish then. 😉

Maggsie profile image
Maggsie in reply toBoxerlady

Our local chippy offer fish without batter if you ask. Its lovely, you get the lovely mouthfeel of fried fish but no stodgy batter 😁

Runrig01 profile image
Runrig01

Thanks for this. It makes perfect sense to me that your age should factor in more. I’ve never been keen on the nhs bmi calculator, as everyone is lumped together, whereas SBMI is factoring in your age. I will continue to try and get my weight down, which is challenging with life long steroids. However it was reassuring that they reassure if your blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels are good then your health is not at risk. Nhs one just states you are at risk with a high bmi, yet many such as athletes have a higher bmi due to larger muscle mass. So I will definitely use the SBMI. Would be good if they enhanced it to include your BP, cholesterol and sugar 🤪👍

ABwn profile image
ABwn

Have just done mine. Love it. Like you I'm in the middle of the green. I'll also still try to increase fitness and make sure I eat healthily. Thanks for sharing the link. Enjoy your weekend.

I was initially sceptical, but it’s good! Also, giving a goal weight was useful, as their suggestion seems achievable. Small steps…

Moomin8 profile image
Moomin8 in reply to

My sentiments exactly 🙂

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Rest vs Exercise

My primary pain is in my hip at the moment. Walking for more than a few minutes is awkward and...

Dropping a few pounds

Hello all, I'm sure this has already been asked but I thought I'd throw this out there. Does anyone...
Tessthomy profile image

Holistic vs Meds. Anyone?

I have been diagnosed with RA. I'm currently taking the hydroquinone, I refuse to take the...
Sugacat profile image

Help with fatigue please and managing ra in general ?

Hi I've recently been diagnosed in October and was looking for a bit of support I'm lucky in that...
cpr02 profile image

Smart Watch recommendations please, more for safety than fitness? Doro perhaps?

I'm trying to find a simple Smart Watch that links to an Android mobile phone rather than an Apple...
PurpleBoots profile image

Moderation team

See all
KateL-NRAS profile image
KateL-NRASAdministrator
Donagh-NRAS profile image
Donagh-NRASAdministrator
Nicola-NRAS profile image
Nicola-NRASAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.