BMI is relatively worthless; a cursory glance is more effective at determining "health", and measurements of body fat and waist/hip ratios are the accepted practices for determining appropriate weights... But 91 is quite light for a woman of your height.
Another thought with regards to the doctor's comment is that as long as no symptoms are showing up as a result of weight, there are bigger fish to fry in a suicidal woman.
...Incidentally, I'm overweight by BMI, but I'm muscular and lean IRL. As I recall, Shaquille O'Neal is "morbidly obese" by BMI.
I agree that BMI is inaccurate at determining health. A person can have a high BMI and can be at death's door if they have been abusing themselves in any way (starving, binge purging, excessive exercise, laxatives, whatever...). And a person can have a high BMI and be muscular and lean, like you say. I agree with you there.
But a BMI of 14 is not "quite light." And a BMI of 13.2 is definitely not "quite light." Not only that, it's the
rate at which weight is lost that can effect someone's body, and these effects may not show up or may be masked by lots of things, mental health problems/poor insight with what's going on with one's body, until it's too late. She said she lost 7lbs in a couple of weeks which is worrying and not something to minimise. She also said she's
unable to eat. What doctor would call the inability to eat, healthy?
As for your comment about the doctor's reaction- I find that offensive. From experience I've had superficial-standard blood tests come up fine at a BMI of around 15-16 but had loss of muscle, dehydration, and couldn't walk for more than 3 minutes without collapsing. My mental health was at rock bottom too. I couldn't breathe in bed or talk without falling asleep. I went to the doctor, (where I couldn't even climb the stairs without falling around in her surgery) and she said I was perfectly healthy and generally told me to eat a chocolate and some crisps. I couldn't make it back home. Her assessment was carried out, in your words, with her "cursory glance." That day, I was admitted to hospital where I was patronised and treated like shit and I discharged myself after 7 days and have had no follow up treatment. That said, I've been, in the past, at that same BMI and felt "fine," although "fine" to me is being able to function one step up from staying in bed all the time and fighting to breathe. My BMI now, is still around 16-17 and I'm much better physically although am weak from the effects of years of doctors not treating my physical and mental health seriously (both of which are closely tied).
There are many women out there who approach the medical profession regardless of BMI, who are dying physically/mentally/emotionally and doctor's take no action whatsoever and cast them off as mentally/emotionally and physically healthy because they do not want to take any action and do not want to listen.
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