Your Weight

We're bombarded with scare stories about weight, from size zero to the obesity 'epidemic'. But a healthy weight is determined by different factors for each of us.

Body mass index (BMI)
Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals around the world use BMI to determine whether a person is overweight or clinically obese. The latest statistics, published in the Health Survey of England 2004, show that almost a quarter of adults are obese.

This means they have a greater risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, stroke and certain cancers (breast and colon). Other health problems related to having too much fat around the body include a greater chance of developing osteoarthritis (wear and tear) of the joints, and emotional problems such as low self-esteem and depression.

A significant drawback with BMI is that it doesn't take into account a person's body fat content, which is an indicator of the risk of future health problems.

Calculate your BMI
Body frames vary and it's difficult for any simple measurement to work out a person's frame. It's more accurate to recommend a weight range, rather than a specific weight for a given height.


To calculate your BMI select your correct height and weight and let the BMI calculator do the rest.

BMI will vary slightly according to gender.

If you'd like to calculate your BMI yourself, follow these three steps.
»  Work out your height in metres and multiply the figure by itself.
»  Measure your weight in kilograms
» Divide the weight by the height squared (ie. the answer to Q1). For example, you might be 1.6m (5ft 3in) tall and weigh 65kg (10st 3lb). The calculation would then be:
1.6 x 1.6 = 2.56. BMI would be 65 divided by 2.56 = 25.39.

Recommended BMI Chart
UnderweightBMI less than 18.5
IdealBMI 18.5-25
OverweightBMI 25-30
Obese - should lose weightBMI 30-40
Very obese - lose weight nowBMI greater than 40
Waist circumference is now believed to be a much more accurate measure of future health risk than BMI alone. Carrying too much fat around your middle is associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.

It's also associated with a greater risk of high cholesterol levels which, in turn, increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. A waist circumference greater than 80cm (32in) for women and 94cm (37in) for men increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, for example, heart attacks and stroke, and diabetes.

The greatest risk is for women with a waist measurement of more than 88cm (35in) and men with a waist measurement of more than 102cm (40in).

To measure: place a tape measure around the narrowest point of your waist (between your lower ribs and your hips), breathe out and measure the circumference.


Need to lose weight?
Losing even modest amounts of weight can help to alleviate many symptoms and reduce your risk of diseases related to being overweight.

Why a healthy weight is important
If your BMI or waist circumference is above the healthy range you're at increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers such as colon, prostate and breast cancer.

You're also more likely to experience joint problems and back pain, and may find you become breathless and have difficulty sleeping.

The more weight you gain, the more severe these problems may become. You can work out your BMI with calculator shown above. You could also calculate your hip to waist ratio as below.

Hip to waist ratio chart
20222426283032343638404244464850
26.77.85.921.001.081.151.231.311.381.461.541.621.691.771.851.92
28.71.79.86.931.001.071.141.211.291.361.431.501.571.641.711.79
30.67.73.80.87.931.001.071.131.201.271.331.401.471.531.601.67
32.63.69.75.81.88.941.001.061.131.191.251.311.381.441.501.56
34.59.65.71.76.82.88.941.001.061.121.181.241.291.351.411.47
36.56.61.67.72.78.83.89.941.001.061.111.171.221.281.331.39
38.53.58.63.68.74.79.84.89.951.001.051.111.161.211.261.32
40.50.55.60.65.70.75.80.85.90.951.001.051.101.151.201.25
42.48.52.57.62.67.71.76.81.86.90.951.001.051.101.141.19
44.45.50.55.59.64.68.73.77.82.86.91.951.001.051.091.14
46.43.48.52.57.61.65.70.74.78.83.87.91.961.001.041.09
48.42.46.50.54.58.63.67.71.75.79.83.88.92.961.001.04
50.40.44.48.52.56.60.64.68.72.76.80.84.88.92.961.00
52.38.42.46.50.54.58.62.65.69.73.77.81.85.88.92.96
54.37.41.44.48.52.56.59.63.67.70.74.78.81.85.89.93
56.36.39.43.46.50.54.57.61.64.68.71.75.79.82.86.89
58.34.38.41.45.48.52.55.59.62.66.69.72.76.79.83.86
60.33.37.40.43.47.50.53.57.60.63.67.70.73.77.80.83
62.32.35.39.42.45.48.52.55.58.61.65.68.71.74.77.81
64.31.34.38.41.44.47.50.53.56.59.63.66.69.72.75.78
66.30.33.36.39.42.45.48.52.55.58.61.64.67.70.73.76
68.29.32.35.38.41.44.47.50.53.56.59.62.65.68.71.74

Male
Female
Health Risk
0.95 or below
0.80 or below
Low Risk
0.96 to 1.0
0.81 to 0.85
Moderate Risk
1.0+
0.85+
High Risk


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