Am I overweight?
Obesity is on the increase. Many people are now leading an increasingly sedentary lifestyle and are eating far more than they need to. It’s more important than ever to establish whether you’re overweight so that you can take the necessary actions to achieve a more healthy you.
Some body fat is essential to provide energy and thermal insulation and to protect you against damage or impact. However, too much body fat can lead to serious health problems such as diabetes, heart problems and osteoarthritis.
There are numerous methods for determining your weight, including weighing scales and the skinfold test (where your skin is measured by callipers at precise points to establish the fat layer thickness), as well as a number of calculations based on various body measurements.
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a commonly used tool used to check whether an individual is a healthy weight. You can work your BMI out by using your body’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of your body’s height in metres. Your score tells you what kind of weight you are:
Your BMI Score Meaning
Less than 19 You’re underweight
Between 20 and 22 You’re the correct weight for your height.
Over 24 You’re overweight.
Over 30 You’re in the obese range.
Over 40 You’re in the morbidly obese range.
Please note that if you’re pregnant or breast feeding, a competitive athlete, a body builder or chronically ill, you shouldn’t use the BMI as a reliable indicator of your weight range.
Please go to your doctor if you don’t know how to calculate your BMI or want a professional opinion on your current state of health.
Once you’ve determined the kind of weight that you need to lose, you can take action to become more healthy by eating better, exercising more regularly and taking a high quality weight loss support supplement.