Is Your Weight Hurting Your Health?
It is important to know whether you are overweight so you can do something about it. Being overweight or obese can cause other very bad health problems. Losing weight can help you avoid them.
There are a few ways people can find out if they are overweight or obese.
Find Out if Your Weight is Right for Your Height
Your body mass index (BMI) helps you find out if you weigh too much for your height. Adults can find out their BMI at one of the BMI calculator Web sites listed here:
If you like, you can also figure it out on your own. You just have to do a little bit of math. You may need a pencil and paper or a calculator. First make sure you know:
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Your weight
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Your height in inches
The formula for figuring this out is:
How to use this formula:
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Figure out your height in inches (remember there are 12 inches in a foot. Example: If you are 6 feet 2 inches tall. Figure out how many inches in 6 feet: 6 x 12 = 72. Add the other 2 inches: 72 + 4 = 76 inches.
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Multiply your height in inches by itself.
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Know your weight in pounds
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Plug the numbers into the formula!
Here is an example of how to get a BMI number:
Let’s say you are 5 feet 5 inches and weigh 145 pounds.
Weight = 145 lbs., Height = 65 inches
Height in inches squared: 65 x 65 = 4,225
Calculation: [145 divided by 4,225] x 703 = 24.1
In this example, the BMI of 24.1 falls within the range of a “normal” healthy weight.
The BMI number can be used to find your weight category. When you put your height and weight into the BMI calculator, it will give you a number. For most people, the number will fall between 18 and 40. This number helps you learn if you weigh too much or too little. Here’s how it works:
If you have a BMI number of ........................................ You are …
18.5 or below .................................................. Underweight
18.5 – 24.9 ...................................................... Normal
25 – 29.9 ........................................................ Overweight
30 – 34.9 ........................................................ Obese
35 – 39.9 ........................................................ Severely Obese
40 and above .................................................. Morbidly Obese
Jane and John: Same Weight, Different BMI?
Take a look at these people. We call them Jane and John.
Jane and John weigh the same – 200 pounds. But Jane is a few inches shorter.
They are not in the same BMI category. As you can see from the table below, there is a relationship between weight, height, and BMI category.
Jane
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Height = 5 ‘6
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Weight = 200 pounds
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BMI = 32.3
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Category: Obese
John
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Height = 6’1
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Weight = 200 pounds
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BMI = 26.4
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Category: Overweight
Children (anyone under 19 years old) will need a different BMI
calculator.
You can find one
here.
Waist Size Matters. Find Out What Your Waist Size Is
To measure your waist, use a measuring tape. You should do it under your clothing. Keep the tape snug, but don’t pull too tight.
Your waist size, along with your BMI and health history, can tell you if you are more likely to get some diseases related to being overweight (diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure).
Here is how it works:
If you are a woman
A waist that is more than 35 inches means you are more likely to get some diseases related to being overweight (diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease).
If you are a man
A waist that is more than 40 inches means you are more likely to get some diseases related to being overweight (diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease).
If you have a larger waist size, AND:
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your BMI number puts you into the overweight, obese, severely obese, or morbidly obese category, and
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you have health problems (like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood glucose, and smoking)
Then you are even more likely to get some diseases related to being overweight (diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure).
Do You Have Other Health Problems that Make Your Weight Matter More?
Has a doctor told you that you have one or more of the following?
High blood pressure (also called hypertension)
High LDL-cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol)
Low HDL-cholesterol ("good" cholesterol)
High blood glucose (sugar)
Family history of heart disease
Has a doctor told you that you should:
Stop smoking cigarettes
Be more active
Talk to your doctor if you have checked two or more of these boxes. It is very important to talk to your doctor if you also have a high BMI or a large waist size.
You might need to lose weight to get healthy. Or you might need to make sure you don’t gain any more weight. Even losing just a few pounds may help you avoid getting diseases related to being overweight or obese.