People often get confused when figuring out the normal weight for them. There is a difference between getting overweight and being obese. When you are overweight, it means that you weigh more than what is normal as per your build or age. Whereas, obesity is a condition where you accumulate excess body fat. An overweight person may or may not have too much body fat.
You have to be careful to adopt the correct weight-loss plan. If you are worried about your health, you should seek professional help. Now, Dr. Syed Abrar, a certified internal medicine physician, and his team at Fulshear Medical Associates have made weight loss in Houston easy. Their facility, located in Houston, Texas, is a reputed organization. You can schedule a virtual appointment here for primary care and psychiatric consultation or treatment.
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Ways To Determine Whether You Are Obese Or Overweight
Generally, the easiest way to understand whether you have normal weight or not is by calculating body mass index or BMI. First, take your weight in kilograms and height in meters. You would get the BMI score once you divide the weight by the square of the height. On average BMI between 18 to 25 is healthy. BMI between 25 to 30 is a sign that you are overweight. When your BMI crosses 30, it indicates obesity.
There is another way to measure the right weight for you – Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR). You should measure the circumference at the narrowest part of your waist and divide it by the circumference of the widest part of the hip. Refer to the following chart to determine whether you are in trouble for your weight –
- Male WHR
- < 0.9: Low risk
- 0.9-0.99: Moderate risk
- ≥ 1: High risk
- Female WHR
- < 0.8: Low risk
- 0.8-0.89: Moderate risk
- ≥ 0.9: High risk
Obesity Can Lead to Many Health Problems
You would see that not only in Houston but the majority of the obese population of the US face health problems related to their excess weight and body fat. They are mainly –
- Cardiovascular conditions and diseases
- Osteoarthritis
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Sleep Apnea
- Chronic back and knee problems
A Word of Caution
Remember that those who exercise regularly and on an extensive workout plan may have more BMI than an average person. They may have solid muscle build-up. Thus, it is unfair to follow the exact BMI reference.
World obesity statistics show a clear picture of the United States that tops as the most obese population worldwide. Obesity among children is a serious concern and various studies show that the trend will continue. Therefore, maintaining a healthy lifestyle has become more than necessary.