| In weight loss studies, you need to know your shape | | | | BMI is calculated from the weight of a person in |
| besides knowing your actual weight and where the | | | | kilograms divided by the square of his/her height in |
| excess weight is carried. | | | | meters. There are easy calculation tables where you |
| Most people connect slimming only to cosmetics | | | | can get your BMI figures just by plugging in your |
| reasons, but there is a far more important reason: your | | | | weight and height. Consult your local pharmacy. |
| health. Who can blame them for that view? Look into | | | | From the foregoing, it seems obvious the first step |
| any glossy magazine, newspaper and so forth, and | | | | towards good health is to maintain your BMI between |
| you will see pages upon pages of advertisements | | | | 18.5 and 24.9. Secondly, it is obvious that since our |
| taken out to promote some weight loss products, | | | | height is already fixed (assuming we are fully grown |
| slimming clubs, health clubs and so on. They invariably | | | | adults), the only way to reduce our BMI is only |
| portray fat and obese 'before' images and 'after' | | | | achievable through weight reduction. In the BMI formula, |
| images of women with hour glass figures to die for. | | | | the denominator is the square of a person's height. It is |
| The fact that sometimes famous personalities are | | | | therefore obvious for 2 individuals with the same body |
| involved only makes it more enticing. Such is the | | | | weight the taller of the two will have a far lower BMI |
| power of advertisement. Rarely are the risks to health | | | | than the shorter one. A tall gangly individual is likely to |
| mentioned. | | | | fare better in the BMI department than a fat squat one. |
| But far more important is the effects of excess | | | | Before we discuss the need to know your shape, |
| weight on your health. Statistically, more than 750 million | | | | there is another measurement to consider. It is your |
| people in the world are termed overweight, out of | | | | girth. For men, a measurement of over 40 inches |
| which 300 million are obese - that is the entire | | | | around the waist is a warning sign for health problems |
| population of US! | | | | to come. For women, the figure is 35 inches. |
| Excess weight had been well documented in medical | | | | You also need to know your shape. Those individuals |
| circles as being one of the most serious factors | | | | having apple-shaped figures (carrying extra weight |
| leading to health problems. Many diseases, such as | | | | around the tummy) carry greater health risks |
| Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, thyroid | | | | compared to those having pear-shaped figures |
| problem, gall bladder disease, osteoarthritis of knee | | | | (carrying extra weight around their hips). If you know |
| joints, hypertension and certain types of cancer are | | | | your shape it will be beneficial in your quest to become |
| linked to excess weight. | | | | a healthier person. |
| What is the definition of excess weight? A person | | | | So there you have it: know your shape, know your |
| with a normal weight has a Body Mass Index (BMI) of | | | | BMI, and know your measurement around the tummy. |
| 18.5 to 24.9. An underweight person has a BMI of less | | | | If you know your shape to be apple-shaped, you |
| than 18.5 while an overweight person has a BMI of 25 | | | | should plan certain exercises to focus on reducing the |
| to 29.9. An obese person has a BMI of over 30. | | | | excess weight around the tummy. |