Assessment of Weight and Associated Health risk includes three basic measures:
- Body mass index
- Waist circumference
- Associated health risk
Body Mass Index (BMI)
BMI is a useful measure of overweight and obesity.
It is calculated from your height and weight.
BMI is an estimate of body fat and a good gauge of your risk for diseases that can occur with more body fat.
The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems, and certain cancers.
Although BMI can be used for most men and women, it does have some limits:
- It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
- It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle.
Use the BMI calculator and table to estimate your body fat. The BMI score means the following:
| BMI | |
|---|---|
| Underweight | Below 18.5 |
| Normal | 18.5–24.9 |
| Overweight | 25.0–29.9 |
| Obesity | 30.0 and Above |
Waist Circumference
Measuring waist circumference helps screen for possible health risks that come with overweight and obesity.
If most of your fat is around your waist rather than at your hips, you’re at a higher ri sk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes
If your waist circumference is ,
More than 35 – Risk factor for females
More than 40 – Risk factor for males
To correctly measure your waist, stand and place a tape measure around your middle, just above your hipbones. Measure your waist just after you breathe out.
Risk Factors for Health TopicsAssociated With Obesity
Along with being overweight or obese, the following conditions will put you at greater risk for heart disease and other conditions:
Risk Factors
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- High LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol)
- Low HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol)
- High triglycerides
- Diabetes
- Family history of premature heart disease
- Physical inactivity
- Cigarette smoking
For people who are considered obese (BMI greater than or equal to 30) or those who are overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9) and have two or more risk factors, it is recommended that you lose weight.
People who are overweight, do not have a high waist measurement, and have fewer than two risk factors may need to prevent further weight gain rather than lose weight.
Talk to your doctor to see whether you are at an increased risk and whether you should lose weight. Your doctor will evaluate your BMI, waist measurement, and other risk factors for heart disease.
The good news is even a small weight loss (between 5 and 10 percent of your current weight) will help lower your risk of developing those diseases
