Are the pounds slowly creeping on? Are you worried that your size may be affecting your health? How can you tell if you are at a healthy weight? Knowing your waist size and your body mass index BMI is the best way to determine if you are at risk to develop health problems. Studies have shown that health risks increase when you have too much fat around your waist. Men with a waist size above 40 inches and women with a waist size above 35 inches have an increased risk of developing obesity-related diseases.
BMI measures your weight relative to your height and provides a range that places your weight in a particular category.
Knowing your health numbers can minimize the risk of developing health problems that can occur due to overweight and obesity.
How can I tell if I weigh too much?
Gaining a few pounds during the year may not seem like a big deal. But these pounds can add up over time. How can you tell if your weight could increase your chances of developing health problems? Knowing two numbers may help you understand your risk: your body mass index (BMI) score and your waist size in inches.
Body Mass Index
The BMI is one way to tell whether you are at a normal weight, are overweight, or have obesity. It measures your weight in relation to your height and provides a score to help place you in a category:
Waist Size
Another important number to know is your waist size in inches. Having too much fat around your waist may increase health risks even more than having fat in other parts of your body. Women with a waist size of more than 35 inches and men with a waist size of more than 40 inches may have higher chances of developing diseases related to obesity.
