Understanding Weight Management
Maintaining a Healthy Body Weight
Maintaining a healthy body weight is important. Being overweight or obese leads to increase risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and many other conditions. Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is a common standard used to determine your health risk based on height and weight. Other ways to identify health risk related to being overweight or obese are Waist Circumference and Body Composition.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a tool used which calculates your height verses your weight. High ranges are just one of many factors for developing a chronic disease, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, or stroke.
Calculate your BMI using an Adult BMI calculator
Input your height, then input your weight, the BMI calculator will determine your BMI.
Waist Circumference
Extra weight around the middle puts people at an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. Women should aim for a waist measurement of 35 inches or less, while men should stay at 40 inches or less.
To correctly measure waist circumference:
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Stand up as straight as possible, if physically able
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Place a tape measure around your middle, just above your hipbones
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Make sure tape is horizontal around the waist
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Keep the tape snug around the waist without compressing skin
Body Composition
Body composition, or % body fat, is most commonly expressed as the percentage of total body weight that is composed of fat. Increases in body fat dramatically worsen health and increase the risk for heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer. The ideal body fat percentage for men is 8 - 25% and for women is 21 - 36%.
Two ways (there are others) to measure Body Fat Composition is to use either a Body Fat Caliper or a Body Fat Monitor (which monitors can also calculate BMI).
Body Composition Monitor
Body Composition Caliper
Medical Disclaimer
The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.