Are you overweight or even obese ? Enter your height and weight into the following overweight calculator to check your healthy status:
Overweight is defined as body mass index (BMI) =>25;
Obese or Obesity is defined as body mass index (BMI) => 30
Research has shown that as your body weight increases to certain levels referred to as "overweight" and "obesity,"* the risks for the following conditions also increases:
- Coronary heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
- Stroke
- Liver and Gallbladder disease
- Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
- Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint)
- Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)
Doctors generally agree that the more obese a person is the more likely he or she is to have health problems. People who are 20% or more overweight can gain significant health benefits from losing weight. Many obesity experts believe that people who are less than 20% above their healthy weight should still try to lose weight if they have any of the following risk factors:
- Family history of certain chronic diseases. People with close relatives who have had heart disease or diabetes are more likely to develop these problems if they are obese.
- Pre-existing medical conditions. High blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, or high blood sugar levels are all warning signs of some obesity-associated diseases.
- "Apple" shape. People whose weight is concentrated around their stomachs may be at greater risk of developing heart disease, diabetes or cancer than people of the same weight who are "pear-shaped" (they carry their weight in their hips and buttocks).
Fortunately, even a modest weight loss of 10 to 20 pounds can bring significant health improvements, such as lowering one's blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Losing weight can improve your health in many ways. Just losing 10% of your current weight can make a difference in the way you feel on a daily basis. Here are some other ways losing weight will benefit your health:
- Increased energy level
- Lower your cholesterol levels
- Reduce your blood pressure
- Reduced aches and pains
- Improved mobility
- Improve your breathing
- Help you sleep better and wake more rested
- Prevention of angina, chest pain caused by decreased oxygen to the heart
- Decreases your risk of sudden death from heart disease or stroke
- Prevention of Type 2 diabetes
- Improved blood sugar levels
