WW Goal Weight Question

[minniecarousel]

My older DS has gone back to WW (after losing 25 lbs when he joined while at school.) The local WW does not differentiate betweeen men & women on their "goal weight" charts. At 6'3", they say he should weigh between 165 - 185 (!!!) No way could he get down to that! The previous goal weight topped out at a higher weight. He's not as concerned about getting lifetime membership status, but thinks it's odd that WW doesn't account for differences between men & women. Anyone else come across this?

 

[MelanieC]

You know I never even thought about that. It would make sense to have something different for men and women. I would have his doctor write some kind of note that he wants him to have a goal weight as " ". Most WW locations will honor that. Have him check with his. They should work with him, unless they are not the best center. Does he live in a place that he could go to another location, or another night with another leader?

Melanie

 

[TigerBear]

That is absolutely crazy! A 6'3" man who weighs 185 would be so thin I don't even think he would be very attractive - at least to me anyway.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Call the 800 number and report whichever Weight Watchers center gave you that information! It's NOT accurate, and it's not healthy!

I'm really familiar with Weight Watchers goal weight policies (still haven't heard anything for anyone following that saga) and while they don't differentiate between men and women, your son has a range of 160 - 200 pounds.

They break down their goal weights first by height, and then by age. I'm guessing your son is 25 years old or younger, which would be why they gave you the range of 160-184. But someone who is 6'3" has the complete range I mentioned above.

If 200 STILL seems to small (and believe me, I understand if it does!) just take him to the doctor, and have the doctor prescribe him a weight.

Good luck!

 

[Poly Pal]

Well at 6'3" and 200 lbs, your son would have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25. This is at the very top end of the "healthy weight range" that the government, many doctors, and even WW now recommend. People with BMI's from 20 to 25 are in the healthy weight range. People with BMI's between 25 and 30 are considered overweight. People with BMI's greater than 30 are "obese" (I know because I was!) Athletes such as body builders (not the average male) may have BMI's higher than most because of significant muscle mass.

I am 6'1" and at last weigh in was 179. My BMI is roughly 24.3 and I have about 7 lbs to lose to reach my goal.

We were just talking at work about how people think what was once considered "normal" weight is now too thin. Just look at movies or TV shows from the '70s. Too me it is sometimes discouraging how "thin" people looked in those "disco era" clothes. Today, more than 60 % of Americans are overweight. So that is what we are used to seeing and using as our basis of comparison. So when people ask me if I'm going to lose any more weight they don't understand when I say "yes" (but then they can't see my "fat belt" (seat, thighs and lower abdomen)!

Good luck to your son. I'm betting he would look darn good in the 185 to 195 range! (and don't say he can't get there - I'll bet he does with your encouragement!)

 

[Harambe]

We had a similar experience at our WW. My DD's Dr. wanted her to loose weight. She is 10 years old. The Dr. knew I did WW because she goes too! She said that some WW will let a son or daughter go for free if Mom goes and the child has a Dr.'s note.

But my WW said they would charge her (one dollar less, big deal) and when I asked if she needed any specail considerations (extra milk or what not) they said no. Then I asked how many points she should have, since she's a growing child. They just weighed her and told us to use the points for her weight. Well she weight 110 lbs.! Big for a 10 year old - but if you go by the adult point system - she could only have the minimum number of points per day! Ridiculous!

But DD did learn the point system, and although she didn't count the points, she now chooses things with lower points to eat (an Italian Ice, rather than ice cream). She went back to the Dr.'s a month ago, and she stayed the same as last year, but has grown a few inches. So she is on her way to slimming down!

Good luck to your son! Sometimes you need to tweak the WW to fit your situation!

 

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by Poly Pal
Well at 6'3" and 200 lbs, your son would have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25. This is at the very top end of the "healthy weight range" that the government, many doctors, and even WW now recommend. People with BMI's from 20 to 25 are in the healthy weight range. People with BMI's between 25 and 30 are considered overweight. People with BMI's greater than 30 are "obese" (I know because I was!) Athletes such as body builders (not the average male) may have BMI's higher than most because of significant muscle mass.

The BMI works if, and ONLY IF, you have the medical testing to determine your body fat percentage.

I am 6'1" and at last weigh in was 179. My BMI is roughly 24.3 and I have about 7 lbs to lose to reach my goal.

I'm 6'2" and at last weigh in am 195. Sounds like I'm still overweight, right? What you're PROBABLY not aware of is the fact that I'm carrying around approximately 25+ pounds of excess skin. Do the math: 195 - 25 = 170 pounds. If I had abdominoplasty tomorrow, I'd weight about 170, but according to the BMI chart I'm still overweight. It's a very fallible chart if it's not used in the manner it's intended. It's designed to show what a healthy percentage of body fat would be, and that can ONLY be done with the proper testing. Not simply by going by height and weight.

We were just talking at work about how people think what was once considered "normal" weight is now too thin. Just look at movies or TV shows from the '70s. Too me it is sometimes discouraging how "thin" people looked in those "disco era" clothes. Today, more than 60 % of Americans are overweight. So that is what we are used to seeing and using as our basis of comparison. So when people ask me if I'm going to lose any more weight they don't understand when I say "yes" (but then they can't see my "fat belt" (seat, thighs and lower abdomen)!

I don't use American Society as a basis of comparison. I don't compare myself to anything. I'm perfectly happy with my weight, and the size clothes that I fit into. (a 34/32 if you're wondering) That's all that matters to me. NOT what other people look like.

Good luck to your son. I'm betting he would look darn good in the 185 to 195 range! (and don't say he can't get there - I'll bet he does with your encouragement!)

I'm sure that you meant this with all due respect, but you really don't know this person. You don't have the knowledge of this person's medical history, nor have you seen him to make this type of statement. I mean no disrespect, but this is the type of situation that I continue to encounter and it really bothers me that people who have NO knowledge of me, my medical history, OR what's going on under my clothes to make presumptions, and judgements.

To minniecarousel, I say again: have your son speak to his doctor so that together you can determine a healthy goal weight for your son.

 

[Poly Pal]

Of course I meant no disrespect to anyone! But here we're told of a guy who is trying to lose weight. He is advised of a goal range (which is in the healthy range according to everything I've read) and before his journey even begins his mother is saying "there is no way he'll ever get there" and another person saying that at 6'3" 185 lbs. he won't look attractive. I think people fighting to lose weight should be supported, not discouraged. My mother always thought I was too thin even when I was significantly overweight.

Snackystacky, I don't think we have the same interpretation of the Body Mass Index (BMI). According to the Center for Disease Control, BMI does not measure body fat. For example, two people of the same height and weight will have identical BMI's. However, one person might have substantially more body fat than the other who has substantially more lean muscle mass. BMI is just one statistical tool used to predict health risk and healthy body weights. If you are 6'2" and 195 lbs. your BMI is 25, which the government considers to be "overweight. Interestingly at 194 lbs. your BMI would be 124.9 and within the healthy weight range. Of course, as with any other measure, this is simply one factor in considering your overall health and your situation may be different. If you did have abdominoplasty and your weight went to 170, your BMI would be 21.2 which is below the mid-point for the range considered healthy.

I certainly did not mean to offend, but I think peoples' goals should be supported unless they are unhealthy. Personally, I've run into some people who've discouraged my weight loss and excercise program. Perhaps my success results in their feeling bad or guilty about their own weight. And society, right or wrong, does use weight and attractiveness as a point of comparison. So let me compare myself to Snackystacky and say "I'm envious of those 34/32's!" (I'm going to get there - the 36 / 32's are starting to bunch up a little in the waist!)

 

[KathyTX]

Originally posted by Harambe
when I asked if she needed any specail considerations (extra milk or what not) they said no. Then I asked how many points she should have, since she's a growing child. They just weighed her and told us to use the points for her weight. Well she weight 110 lbs.! Big for a 10 year old - but if you go by the adult point system - she could only have the minimum number of points per day! Ridiculous!

Ouch- sounds like you didn't get accurate information from your local Weight Watchers representatives!

Females under 16 and males under 19 are supposed to add 2 points to the daily points range. I believe I remember that they're supposed to have an additional milk serving, but I can't find documentation of that right now.

It sounds like your DD got the best possible result from the program- learning to evaluate the nutritional values of food and make healthy eating choices. Sounds like she's doing great!

And I think Dan's situation demonstrates how these weight charts aren't truly "one size fits all." BMI is a pretty simplistic and crude guideline, simply a ratio of weight vs. height. It does not take body composition (fat vs. muscle) into account at all, as well as a number of other factors that can vary widely by individual. Anytime you feel uneasy about these weight charts or feel your circumstances may be unusual, it would be a good idea to consult with your doctor to try to determine a healthy goal weight for YOU.

BMI is a useful measurement for "mass market" programs like Weight Watchers, and is adequate for maybe 90% of the population. But remember that lots of people don't fit into that cookie cutter definition!