Do I Need to Lose Weight?

Because health risks can occur from being both underweight and overweight, it is important to keep a balanced diet to either maintain, lose or put on weight. But before attempting to do either, you need to be sure what weight you need to aim for. There are a number of ways to find out if you need to lose weight or not.

percent body fat

A test called "calliper measurement" measures the percentage of body fat (PBF) underneath the skin. It is a painless test which helps estimate the PBF by the use of a skinfold calliper which grasps a fold of skin, usually from the waist, hips, and thighs, which is then pulled away from the muscle.

waist to hip ratio

The shape of a person抯 body is usually referred to as an "apple" or a "pear." This is the waist to hip ratio which is calculated by dividing the waist circumference by the hip circumference.

This is used to assess the risk of diseases such as heart disease and hypertension. According to the waist to hip ratio, those who have "apple" figures are more likely to suffer from heart disease and hypertension.

body mass index

Body mass index, (BMI) can tell you whether you are underweight, normal, overweight, or obese. The BMI is calculated using the following formula:

Weight (lbs)
---------------------        X 705
Height (inches2)

For a person to be considered a normal weight would have a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. For a person to be considered overweight would have a BMI of 25 to 29.5 Those with a BMI of 30+ are considered obese, and 40+ indicates that a person is morbidly obese.

Those who have a BMI ranging from 25 to 34.9 are more likely to encounter health risks, with those with a waist size over 40 inches (men) or 35 inches (women), are more likely to risk obesity-related problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

 

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