Check your Obesity Status
Most of us are generally aware of the fact that we are overweight or obese (we are not talking about the lean ones here), but often fail to assess how much extra pounds we are carrying. To start a weight loss program, the first step is to know what should be your healthy normal weight and how much you need to reduce.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
There is no way to measure obesity or excess body weight accurately till now. However, experts count on Body Mass Index (BMI) as the proper clinical way to measure obesity in recent years. BMI is used to measure both overweight or obesity status of a person. It is a simple calculation process involving weight and height.
BMI can be calculated by finding out the ratio between body weight (in kilograms) and the square of height (in meters). People having BMI of 18.5 to 25 have normal healthy weight. Those with BMI of 25 to 30 come under the overweight category and those with BMI of 30-40 are obese. A person having BMI of more than 40 is considered as severely or morbidly obese.
BMI is widely used to check the obesity status of people. But it's not a perfect system, as people with very muscular body may fall under the obese category due to their more muscle weight even though they are normal.
Waist Circumference
Waist circumference can be used to determine the obesity status by measuring the abdominal area. The increase in waist circumference indicates more abdominal fat. It can also help in calculating the risk of diseases linked specifically to abdominal related obesity. People with apple shaped belly are found to be more at risk. Males with waist circumference of 40 inches or more and women with 35 inches or more fall under the high risk category. You can check your waist circumference using a tape.
These are the two popular methods that can give you an idea about your obesity status, which may further help you choose or decide on the weight loss program you would like to adopt.
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