Anorexia/Eating Disorders/BMI

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Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 9/30/2010


Question
Hi Jeanne,
When i was in treatment for anorexia, they told me that at my height (5'8.5"), a healthy weight would be 132lbs. That puts me at a BMI of 20.

However, if you look at the BMI guidelines, anything under 18.5 would be considered underweight but 18.5 - 24.9 is considered "healthy weight".

So I was just wondering - how come 18.5 isn't considered a "healthy" BMI by staff in treatment centers.I know lots of treatment centers insist a BMI of 20 as opposed to 18.5.

Also - once you are an adult, is the BMI of a person age 23 the same as what it should be for a person who is 33, 43 or 53? in other words, as you age, should your bmi go up/down or should it stay the same?

Thanks.  

Answer

Jeannie Rust, PhD
Hi!

Thanks so much for writing me!

Wow -- what a question!

So much of this is subject to interpretation.  I personally wonder at treatment centers that make a BMI of 20 and optimum weight to strive for.  It's not about the number!  It's about a huge list of variables, body build, athletic status (with out overexercising).

Wikipedia says BMI is used differently for children. It is calculated the same way as for adults, but then compared to typical values for other children of the same age. Instead of set thresholds for underweight and overweight, then, the BMI percentile allows comparison with children of the same sex and age.[9] A BMI that is less than the 5th percentile is considered underweight and above the 95th percentile is considered obese for people 20 and older. People under 20 with a BMI between the 85th and 95th percentile are considered to be overweight.

According to Wikipedia it is when a person is 20 or older that they are subject to "normal BMI" measurements.  For instance a 70 year old women, if she has a BMI of 24, she is of a healthy weight just as if she were 30-- if our 70 year old had a BMI over 30, for sure she would be obese -- and over 39 mnorbidly obese!  Same...

I hope this answers your question.

It sounds as if you're feeling like 132 is too much for you to weigh.  Are you eating a healthy diet?  Are you eating normally?

Warmly,
Jeanne Rust, PhD
CEO/Founder
Mirasol, Inc
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com
888-520-1700

Jeanne Rust, PhD

Expertise

I have been treating eating disorders for over 25 years and I have a doctorate in clinical psychology. I am an expert in anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders and in co-occurring disorders as well -- depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc. I was the official eating disorder therapist for the University of Arizona athletic department and love working with girls and women of all ages! 12 years ago I started my own treatment centers in Arizona where we treat adolescents and adults. I love working with people and have been helping people online since 1994. My hearts go out to the people out there who are unable to find help, who aren't sure whether they need help, and who don't have much of an understanding of the terrible consequences, emotionally and physically, that go hand in hand with the eating disorder. I view eating disorders as coping mechanisms that people use when they are under stress. I believe that eating disorders most times have many similarities whether it is anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating. The good news is that people can heal from an eating disorder and learn to create the lives they would like to live.

Experience

I have 25 years of experience in treating eating disorders of all kinds. I also do consultations for people who are starting treatment centers.

Education/Credentials
Northwestern University -- BA Masters in Counseling Doctorate in Clinical Psychology -- Saybrook institute

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