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September 17, 2018
DO I NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT?
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Before answering that question, we would like to emphasize that we are referring to weight loss to achieve overall health, not a physical look. Everyone is unique and should accept the body they have. However, once you have passed a certain weight threshold, despite accepting yourself as you are, you are at a greater risk of developing various illnesses such as heart problems, diabetes, not to mention increased cancer risk, etc.
✔ BMI CALCULATOR
So, let's look at the question again: Do I need to lose weight to reduce these risks and live a healthier life?
To answer this question, you will need two pieces of information to calculate your BMI (body mass index):
- Your weight
- Your height
Simply
click here and enter your information to find the answer.
But make sure to come right back to read the rest of the article to understand what your result means.
Here is the analysis of your result:
| RESULTS |
ANALYSIS |
| Less than 18.5 |
Underweight (with health risk) |
| Between 18.5 and 25 |
Normal weight |
| Between 25 and 30 |
Overweight |
| Between 30 and 35 |
Obese |
| 35 or higher |
Morbidly obese (definition of morbid: associated with, characterized by
or resulting in disease) |
While it is the most widely used calculation on the web, there is still a major issue with considering this number alone. First, the calculation does not take into account whether you are a woman or a man, even though there are major physical differences between the sexes. Second, there is no distinction between weight from muscle and weight from fat, or consideration of where the fat is concentrated on your body. We’re pretty sure that when Arnold Schwarzenegger was competing, must have had a BMI in the obese range, or perhaps even in the morbidly obese range. Between you and me, it certainly wasn't his percentage of body fat that was posing a risk to his health back then.
✔ WAIST MEASUREMENT
Given those considerations, we strongly advise that you combine this number with your waist measurement, as it will determine the amount of fat surrounding your vital organs, which is most likely to put your health at risk. And no, saddlebags are not bad for your health, my dear!
To figure it out, you just need a measuring tape and some honesty (don't suck in your tummy—you'll only be lying to yourself). Find the smallest part of your waist, breathe in, and when you exhale and your abdominals are fully relaxed, take the measurement.
| Health risks |
Men |
Female |
| Low |
93.9 cm or less |
79.9 or less |
| Increased |
94 cm to 101.9 cm |
80 cm to 87.9 cm |
| High |
102 cm and up |
88 cm and up |
If you fall into high-risk categories for both measurements, you should start to take it seriously. It's time to acknowledge the fact that your body is putting your health at risk. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to fix the situation. Read about them in
7 weight-loss tips or in
Lose Weight - Sure, but at What Cost?. Small changes in your daily life will make a big difference to your physical and mental health. See what
Karyne, Jessy et Donald were able to do
here.
