How do I decide if I am overweight?

Being overweight is not just about how you look, because it actually increases the risk of suffering from various diseases. Finding out whether you are overweight or obese can help you to determine if your health is at risk. It seems that many people tend to underestimate the problem, so as to avoid the stigma still associated with being overweight.

Are you overweight?

If you have ever asked yourself any of the following questions: “Am I underweight?”, “How healthy am I?”, “How to find my BMI?”, “Am I obese?” or “Is my BMI within the normal range?”, you will find this article rather useful. People come in different shapes and sizes, and the ideal weight for you may be different than that of someone else. However, as far as health is concerned, fat and thin may not be entirely subjective. Doctors use the BMI index to determine if someone’s weight is healthy or not.
How to calculate your BMI To work out BMI, you need to use the following formula: (Weight in Pounds / ( Height in inches x Height in inches ) ) x 703. An easier way would be to find an online calculator. You can simply visit your favourite search engine and type “BMI calculator”. If the value is between 18.5 and 24.9, then your weight is normal. If the value is above 25, you are overweight and if it’s above 30, you are considered obese. What about people who are underweight? How thin is too thin? If your BMI is below 18.5, then you definitely need to put on some weight.
Female BMI BMI for women is measured in the same way. However, most women tend to believe that they look their best if their BMI is between 20 and 22. Of course, the ideal BMI is a very subjective matter. Even though the BMI index is the most appropriate way to measure obesity, it does have some limitations. It does not account for muscle mass and may give questionable results in people who are very muscular. So, if you are an athlete or a bodybuilder, you need to take these measurements with a grain of salt.

Additional ways to decide if you are overweight:

Waist circumference A waist measurement above 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men indicates internal fat deposits, which can coat the organs of the body and increase the risk of disease.
Body fat percentage If your body fat percentage is more than 33% (for women) or 20% (for men), then you are considered overweight. To find your body fat percentage, you can use calipers or Body Fat Scales.