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A healthy weight is one that puts you at a lower risk
for developing diseases or conditions that are associated
with being overweight. Some of the health conditions
associated with being overweight are heart disease,
diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, arthritis and other
joint disorders, and even certain types of cancer.
A body mass index (BMI) is a calculation
that uses weight and height to determine a person's
risk for many health conditions. BMI is an indicator
of risk for certain health conditions related to a person's
weight. As BMI increases, so does the risk for certain
diseases. A BMI in the range of 18.5-24.9 correlates
to the lowest risk for disease and is considered to
be a healthy weight range for adults.
Since BMI is a measure of body fatness,
it also serves as classification for weight status.
BMI ranges are classified in to the following categories.
BMI has some limitations, however.
BMI may not be an accurate measure of healthy weight
for women who are pregnant, people who are very muscular,
such as bodybuilders, or people who have lost muscle
mass, such as the elderly. While BMI is quick and easy
to determine, an actual diagnosis of overweight or obesity
should be performed by a health professional, who has
taken all factors into consideration.
To help determine what a realistic
goal weight would be, you should aim for a weight that
puts you in the healthful range of BMI for your height.
To
calculate your BMI, you'll need your weight in pounds
and your height in inches:
Studies have shown that, in people
who have a BMI of 25 or greater, a weight reduction
of 10% can significantly reduce a person's risk for
disease. So, if that range of 19.5 — 24.9 seems
difficult for you to reach, be aware that any weight
reduction can have a positive impact on your health.
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