Measuring Obesity

Posted: June 1, 2004

People who are overweight or obese have a greater chance of developing high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol or other lipid disorders, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers, and even a small weight loss (just 10 percent of your current weight) will help to lower your risk of developing those diseases.

According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) guidelines, assessment of overweight involves using three key measures:

• body mass index (BMI)
• waist circumference
• risk factors for diseases and conditions associated with obesity

What is BMI?
The BMI is a measure of your weight relative to your height, and waist circumference measures abdominal fat. Combining these with information about your additional risk factors yields your risk for developing obesity-associated diseases.

BMI is a reliable indicator of total body fat, which is related to the risk of disease and death. The score is valid for both men and women but it does have some limits.

The limits are:

• It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
• It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle mass.

To calculate your BMI please click on:
http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm

Check your BMI:
Underweight: Below 18.5
Normal: 18.5 to 24.9
Overweight: 25.0 to 29.9
Obesity: 30.0 and above

Waist circumference
Determine your waist circumference by placing a measuring tape snugly around your waist. It is a good indicator of your abdominal fat, which is another predictor of your risk for developing risk factors for heart disease and other diseases. This risk increases with a waist measurement of over 40 inches in men and over 35 inches in women.

Other risk factors
Besides being overweight or obese, there are additional factors to consider when evaluating your risk for obesity-related diseases:

• high blood pressure (hypertension)
• high LDL-cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol)
• low HDL-cholesterol ("good" cholesterol)
• high triglycerides
• high blood glucose (sugar)
• family history of premature heart disease
• physical inactivity
• cigarette smoking

Recommendations
For people who are considered obese (BMI greater than or equal to 30) or those who are overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9) and have two or more risk factors, the guidelines recommend weight loss.

Even a small weight loss (just 10 percent of your current weight) will help to lower your risk of developing diseases associated with obesity. Patients who are overweight, do not have a high waist measurement, and have less than two risk factors may need to prevent further weight gain rather than lose weight.

Talk to your doctor to see if you are at an increased risk and if you should lose weight. Your doctor will evaluate your BMI, waist measurement, and others risk factors for heart disease.

Source: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

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