Am I Fat?
This is a question many often ask of themselves and others! However, there are a few factors that should be taken into consideration before coming to the answer.
First of all, some body fat is necessary. It stores energy, provides thermal insulation and protects you against damage or impact. You’re overweight if you have too much body fat. The amount of body fat you carry determines your body shape and ultimately your health and if you have too much, can lead to numerous health problems.
Secondly, relying only on weighing scales may not give you a totally accurate picture. Your scale weight measures your body’s total weight. This includes everything including body fat, muscle, your internal organs, any food and drink you’ve recently consumed, water retained by body tissue and your bones. Your total weight doesn’t take into account the ratio of fat to lean tissue.
A good place to start in determining if you have too much body fat is by using the Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is calculated using the body’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of the body’s height in metres. The following are some general guidelines in how your BMI determines whether you need to lose weight:
A BMI of less than 19 and you’re considered to be underweight.
A BMI of 20-22 is the perfect score. You do not need to lose weight.
A BMI over 24 and you’re overweight.
A BMI over 30 and you’re considered to be obese.
A BMI over 40 and you’re morbidly obese.
BMI is generally a reliable indicator for most people except for women who are pregnant or breast feeding, competitive athletes, body builders and chronically ill patients. If you’re unsure how to calculate your BMI or want an accurate indication of the weight that you need to lose, please seek your doctor’s advice. They’ll be happy to help you to establish whether you need to lose weight.