You Ask. We Answer. Overweight or Obese? What's the difference and why is it important?
Written by Joe Montemorano-RxHealthyHabits
How do I know if I am overweight or obese? And the second big question -why is it important to know the difference?
Short Answer:
Two “tools” are used by health experts and health care providers to assess weight and health risks
1) BMI
2) Waist Circumference
Here are the numbers that create health risks:
Overweight is a BMI of 25 to 29.9
Waist circumference of 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men.
Obesity is a BMI of 30-39.5
Waist circumference of 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men.
Knowledge of how to assess your weight and risk factors is very important to your overall health and key to “self-health care” -taking care of yourself with diet, exercise, and healthy habits). Without this knowledge, you will be lacking key information to prevent mitigate, or reduce the severity of disease states that may be lurking in your future.
BMI-Body Mass Index (1)
A calculation that is a standard assessment utilizing your height and weight to estimate your body fat. Your BMI “number” is a major factor used by your healthcare provider to determine your risk for developing a disease.
It’s quite accurate for most men and women, with a few exceptions and some limitations:
1) It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
2) It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle.
Here are the BMI Scores and how they rate your weight
Weight | BMI |
Underweight | Below 18.5 |
Normal | 18.5-24.9 |
Overweight | 25-29.9 |
Obese | 30-39.9 |
Morbidly Obese | 40 and above |
Here is the bad news for the US Population when it comes to being overweight or obese (2):
71% are overweight
47% are obese
9.7 % are morbidly obese
How do I calculate my BMI?
Click on this link for a BMI Calculator
OR
Go to our YouTube Channel RXHealhyHabits and click the link for the BMI Calculator.
Waist Circumference
Measuring waist circumference helps screen for possible health risks that come with overweight and obesity.
If most of your fat is around your waist rather than at your hips, you’re at a higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
This risk goes up with a waist size measurement that is greater than 35 inches for women.
The risk is greater when waist size measurement is greater than 40 inches for men.
To correctly measure your waist, stand and place a tape measure around your middle, just above your hip bones. Measure your waist just after you breathe out
Health Risks of overweight and obesity (1)
Disease Risk* Relative to Normal Weight and Waist Circumference
BMI | Obesity | Men 102 cm (40 in) or less | Men > 102 cm (40 in) | |
| (kg/m^2) | y | Women 88 cm (35 in) or less | Women > 88 cm (35 in) |
| Class | | | |
Underweight | < 18.5 | - | - | |
Normal | 18.5–24.9 | | - | - |
Overweight | 25.0–29.9 | | Increased | High |
Obesity | 30.0–34.9 | I | High | Very High |
| 35.0–39.9 | II | Very High | Very High |
Extreme Obesity | 40.0 + | III | Extremely High | Extremely High |
*Disease risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and CVD.
Increased waist circumference also can be a marker for increased risk, even in persons of normal weight.
The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems, and certain cancers.
Risk Factors or Underlying Conditions
If you have the following risk factors along with being overweight or obese, the following conditions will put you at greater risk for heart disease and other conditions.
Risk Factors
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
Here are some takeaways:
It’s strongly recommended you lose weight if the following: (1) BMI greater than or equal to 30 or (2) those who are overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9) and have two or more risk factors.
Good news! Even a small weight loss(between 5 and 10 percent of your current weight) will help lower your risk of developing diseases associated with obesity. More is in your control than you think
If someone is overweight with a lower waist measurement and has fewer than two risk factors they need to focus on not gaining more weight as a strategy.
Discussing with your doctor how to evaluate your BMI, waist measurement, and other risk factors for heart disease is a good path and will be a catalyst for you to take action and lose weight
The Biggest Takeaway
We are here to help. “When the student is ready the teacher will appear”. Are you ready? It’s time to “invest” in your health.
We offer a comprehensive weight loss program at RxHealthyHabits to help those who are “sick and tired of being sick and tired” of being overweight and obese. We are ready to get you on a lifelong path of being a normal weight and on the journey of transformative, optimized health. Begin your journey. It's so worth it!
References:
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