Since the 1980s both adult men and women in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom have become heavier. Obesity rates have more than doubled in the last 20 years! Children also are also becoming heavier and obesity is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease and even shortening of life expectancy. Some have said this generation is digging our graves with our teeth!
How can you tell what is a healthy weight for you? Well, certainly not by the stereotypical 'perfect' female shape we see in the movies and on TV! The truth is these images do not depict the typical female form. Men also struggle to find a realistic picture of the healthy male. The pressure to lose weight to an unrealistic slimness is immense and can lead to more heartache rather than good health.
It is time to pay attention to our weight but how can we determine what is a healthy body weight for each individual that is not based on unrealistic expectations?
The simplest way to check your weight is to measure your waist circumference, using a tape measure. This gives you an idea of whether you have a lot of fat stored around your middle. Waist circumferences associated with increased health risk are:
· Men - Waist circumference greater than 94cm
· Women - Waist circumference greater than 80cm
Another way to check your weight is to calculate your Body Mass Index or BMI. Your BMI is a ratio or comparison of your height and weight expressed in a number. To find out your BMI you need to divide your weight (measured in kg) by your height (measured in metres) squared.
The accepted definitions of weight categories by BMI are:
· Underweight – less than 20
· Healthy weight – between 20 – 25
· Overweight – between 25 – 30
· Obese - greater than 30
These BMI values only apply to adults aged 18 years and over and are based on studies of Caucasian populations. Therefore, they are not applicable to children and adolescents and they may not be appropriate for people of other cultural backgrounds.
The BMI does not take into account the ratio of body fat to muscle. Very fit, muscular people may register with a higher BMI but not need to lose weight.
A more reliable system to estimate how overweight you are and which takes into account your muscle mass is the amount of body fat as a percentage of total body weight. You can estimate your body fat and obtain a report on your healthy weight at the website listed in the authro's resource box.
About the Author
Kim Beardsmore is a weight loss consultant whose business operates across 60 countries. This world renowned, medically approved program will give you results you'll love and all the support you need! Estimate your body fat percentage and register for our weight loss ezine at http://leanmachine.org/'refidoverweight-23705