Comments on: I no longer weigh myself – how NHS local is changing my life

By: Virginia Moffatt

Virginia Moffatt — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 21:42:32 +0000

Thanks Jo. I keep up with your progress via Anne, and occasionally read of your exploits etc…Really amazed at what you have done over the years. And as a somewhat obsessive, though slow and tubby runner, always glad to welcome anyone else on board.

By: Jo Ind

Jo Ind — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:42:10 +0000

Hello Virgina-blast-from-the-past-Moffat! Fancy finding you here. And you became a writer too. And you called your blog A Room of my Own. I called my first post A cyber-room of one’s own. (https://joind.co.uk/2009/writing/a-cyber-room-of-ones-own#more-294) How strange. How nice to hear from you after 25 years.

By: Virginia Moffatt

Virginia Moffatt — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:25:26 +0000

Hi Jo,

Lovely to find your website and GREAT post. I have long despised BMI for this very reason!
And I NEVER weigh myself!

Lots of love

Virginia

By: Jo Ind

Jo Ind — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:59:11 +0000

Yes, I guess the BMI is well used because it’s simple, low-tech and easy to promote. But if it’s misleading, doesn’t it do more harm than good? I have a very fit friend, who is constantly battling with her weight. Why? Because a nurse at her GP’s took her to one side and said: “I’m sorry to say this, but you’re obese.” My friend has been at war with her body ever since. I want to take the system that caused the nurse to do that test and make that interpretation and smack it about the head.

By: editorialgirl

editorialgirl — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:49:57 +0000

That’s really interesting. We hear that the waist measurement is important, but not how to work out whether it’s good or bad.

I suppose the calculation has to take into account height, weight and other proportions. Which, of course, wouldn’t be anywhere near as simple to explain – and, crucially, *promote* – as the simple BMI.

Good to hear you’re no longer disheartened, anyway! ‘Rah’ for NHS Local!

By: Jo Ind

Jo Ind — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:32:55 +0000

That’s great Laurster, so long as the scales ARE giving you information about how what you are doing is affecting your body. I was needing to ditch them, because they were “telling” me that working out was making me fatter, even though my clothes and the tape measure and my friends were telling me otherwise.

By: Laurster

Laurster — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:20:21 +0000

Great article. Have to say it’s difficult to totally ditch the scales. I spent ages trying to gauge my weight/shape purely by my trusty old jeans; if they were tight I needed to work out/go easy on the biscuits – if they were loose… actually that never happened. Anyway eventually I grew out of said jeans and find weighing myself weekly helpful to learn how what I’m eating and what exercise I’m doing is affecting my body.