Are You Obese? Check Out Your Body Mass Index!

If you want to find out if you are obese you need to check your body mass index (BMI). This is a recognised international index used by experts to determine if a person is obese or falls within the normal body mass range. The normal score ranges between 18.5 and 24.9 and anything higher would be classed as overweight to obese. If you think your score may be in the higher brackets then this information will let you know if you would be classed as morbidly or malignantly obese and if so, you have a higher chance of suffering from some serious health problems.

If for example, your BMI was say 30 plus then you would be classed as being mildly obese but if it were between 40 and 50 plus then you would be classed as morbidly or malignantly obese and figures at all these levels should be ringing warning bells.

How to calculate your BMI?

You can calculate you're your BMI by using a table that is based on your height in meters and your weight in kg or height in inches and weight in pounds.

For following example the formula is based on pounds and inches:

1.    Weigh yourself on scales.

2.    Then measure your height in inches

3.    Then use a calculator and perform the following calculation.

4.    Take your height in inches and square this number (multiply the number of inches by the same number of inches

5.    Then divide your weight in pounds by the second figure (your height in inches squared).

6.    Multiply this answer by 703 and this will gives you your Body Mass Index.

If your BMI comes out at 25 to 29.9, you would be classed as being overweight but bordering on obese. However, you are at the upper limit of normal and this is a sign that you are gradually becoming obese and need to take steps to avoid this.

Here are the BMI categories with numbers over 30 classed as obese:

o    Underweight         BMI   18.5

o    Normal weight       ~      18.5-24.9

o    Overweight            ~      25-29.9

o    Class I obesity       ~      30-34.9

o    Class II obesity      ~      35-39.9

o    Class III obesity     ~      40 and higher

Some of the other terms used are Mild, Morbid and Malignant and a BMI of 30 and over is classed as unhealthy and increases your chance of health related illnesses such as  heart diseases, strokes, diabetes, cancer of the gallbladder, breast, ovaries, uterus, and cervix, (affecting women) and cancer of the colon, rectum, and prostate (affecting men). Gallstones, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, problems in pregnancy, irregular menstrual cycles and infertility etc.

Remember that although the BMI is a good indicator of obesity it is limited in that it doesn't look at things like your body type or the amount of muscle mass you have.  So, another sign to be aware of is where your body stores any excess fat. For example, if you are an apple shape and store fat around your tummy then you are more at risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and stroke. More so than someone who is a typical pear shape where fat is stored around the hips and thighs

If you have a waist measurement of more than 88cm (35 inches) women or 102 (40 inches) men, then again the alarm bells should be ringing and you should seek advice from your Doctor.