HEALTHY BODY WEIGHT

HEALTHY BODY WEIGHT

A combination of factors determines our weight, and that's why it's difficult to set an exact ideal weight that applies to everyone. Our idea about our weight and looks are mainly influenced by our friends, family and fashion. We tend to compare ourselves with celebrities and models that we see in magazines, T.V etc. Many of them are unnaturally thin. It is also not advisable to compare oneself with friends and family members. This is due to the fact that due to the ever-increasing problem of obesity, the concept of average weight may be too heavy for us or our body type. It’s important to remember there's a range of healthy body weights. Aiming to keep within this means an end to aspiring to one magic weight you think you should be. Therefore it is very important to make an objective assessment of our body weights.
How do I know if I'm a healthy weight?
There are a many ways by which we can work out if our weight falls within a healthy weight range.
Body mass index (BMI)
We can easily check our body size using the body mass index (BMI), which assesses your weight in relation to your height. t is calculated by dividing the subject's weight by the square of his/her height, typically expressed either in metric or US "Customary" units: It is calculated by the given formula
WEIGHT (KG/lb) /HEIGHT (M/Inches)*HEIGHT (M/Inches)

Metric: BMI = kg / m2
Where kg is the weight in kilograms and m is the subject's height in meters.
US/Customary: BMI = lb * 703 / in2
Where lb is the subject's weight in pounds and in is the subject's height in inches.

The most commonly used definitions, established by the WHO in 1997 and published in 2000, provide the following values: A BMI less than 18.5 is underweight

A BMI of 18.5–24.9 is normal weight
A BMI of 25.0–29.9 is overweight
A BMI of 30.0–39.9 is obese
A BMI of 40.0 or higher is severely (or morbidly) obese

Limitations of BMI
BMI doesn't apply to everybody. Those who have a lot of muscle may have a BMI over 25 but very little body fat and be a healthy weight. Similarly, if someone has very little muscle, he/she may still have too much body fat, even though you are in the correct weight range for your height. BMI also does not apply to pregnant women, children or some ethnic groups (e.g. a BMI of 27.50 for an Asian person has been shown to have a health risk the same as a BMI of 30 for a white Caucasian person).

Waist Circumference
Another method of assessing whether we have a healthy weight is to measure the circumference of our waist. An at-risk waist measurement is 102cm (40 inches) for men and 89cm (35 inches) for women.

Waist – to – Hip Ratio
Where fat is distributed on the body can be a good indicator of overweight/obesity. Excess fat in this area increases your risk of heart disease and diabetes .A lot of fat deposited in the abdominal area can put someone at increased risk of obesity related diseases. To calculate it, we need to measure (in cm or inches) your waist at the narrowest part – just above the navel and then do the same around our hips at the widest possible part. Our waist to hip ratio is then determined by dividing the waist measurement by the hip measurement.
WAIST (cm/inches)/HIP (cm/inches)

For an average man, a ratio of 0.94 and above poses a health risk. The average woman – a ratio of 0.82 and above defines risk.


Body Fat
We can also measure the amount of fat in our body using scales designed for this purpose, often called body fat analyzers. These pass a small, safe electrical signal through your body. Lean tissue, such as muscle, and blood contain water and act as conductors of the electrical signal, while fat resists it. The greater the resistance, more the body fat.

So before starting any weight loss regime it is important to determine the average/ideal weight of one’s own body and then strive to attain the same.We must not blindly follow the weight loss of others.