Identifying Obesity in the Beginning

Identifying obesity early on can really save a person's life. If this condition is allowed to go on for too long, you risk placing yourself at risk for things like heart disease and diabetes. Not only this, but if you are obese, you can end up incredibly depressed and isolated because of the social stigma attached to the condition. Thus, if you or someone you know is large in size, it is important to work on figuring out whether or not the situation is severe.

If it is, it is important to take the time to alter one's life so that the individual can make healthy decisions. The following are some ways to find out whether or not you are obese so that you can seek treatment as early on as is possible.

One of the first things to consider is if your weight affects your day to day life. If you can not make it up a small flight of stairs without being out of breath or if you are worried about sitting in chairs because you do not want to break them, then chances are high that you are obese. This means that your weight has infiltrated many areas of your life and is making small tasks or decisions difficult to accomplish.

One of the best ways to determine if you are obese is to look at a height and weight chart. Here, there are tables that tell folks what their ideal weight should be for their height. The chart is divided up so that there are sections for men and for women and for the type of build or frame a person has. Here, you can really see if you are normal, overweight, or obese.

Similarly, if you want to identify obesity early on, you should look into the body mass index (BMU). This tool is used and is based off of one's height and weight. Here, if your BMU is below 18.5, you are underweight, and if you are over 30, then you are obese. Anything over 40 and you are morbidly obese.

Calipers are another tool used to determine whether or not a person is obese. Here, an expert trained in this test, will use skinfold calipers to punch the skin. The thickness of the fat away from the muscle and bone is measured to calculate a person's fat content. From this, the tester can tell you whether or not you are truly obese.

The above tests and measurements can really help you find out whether or not you are obese. Once you know, you can work on finding treatments and consult with a doctor to help turn your life around and be as healthy as possible.

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