CHECK OUT THE INFORMATION FROM THE MAYO CLINIC BELOW "GET OUT YOUR TAPE MEASURE" WHAT'S YOUR FAMILY HEALTH HISTORY!!! BODY FAY RATING Female AGE RISKY EXCELLENT GOOD FAIR POOR VERY POOR 19-24 <9% 18.9% 22.1% 25.0% 29.6% >29.6% 25-29 18.9% 22.0% 25.4% 29.8% 30-34 19.7% 22.7% 26.4% 30.5% 35-39 21.0% 24.0% 27.7% 31.5% 40-44 22.6% 25.6% 29.3% 32.8% 45-49 24.3% 27.3% 30.9% 34.1% 50-54 26.6% 29.7% 33.1% 36.2% 55-59 27.4% 30.7% 34.0% 37.3% 60+ 27.6% 31.0% 34.4% 38.0% WHEN TO SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE How do you know whether you need to lose weight for medical reasons? Stepping on the scale only tells you your total weight - including bone, muscle and fluid - not how much of your weight is fat. The scale also doesn't tell you where you're carrying that fat. In determining health risks, both of these factors are more important than weight alone. other pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes, also play a role in determining the health risks associated with too much body fat. BMI (Body Mass Index) A threefold approach can help determine whether you need to lose weight for medical reasons. These include body mass index, waist measurement and personal medical reasons history. Body Mass Index (BMI). The BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat and health risks. If your BMI is between 18.58 and 24.9, you're considered in a healthy weight range for your height. If your BMI is between 25 and 29.9, you're considered overweight. And, if your BMI is 30 or greeater, you're considered obese. The following table shows examples of healthy weight, overweight and obese weight ranges for several heights. HEIGHT HEALTHY WT OVER WT OBESE 5 FT 2 101/136 137/163 164 OR MORE 5 FT 6 115/154 155/185 186 OR MORE 5 FT 10 129/173 174/208 209 OR MORE 6 FT 2 144/194 195/233 234 OR MORE WAIST MEASUREMENT If you carry most of your fat around your waist or upper body, you may be referred to as apple shaped. If you carry most of your fat around your hips and thighs or lower body, you may be referred to as a pear shaped. When it comes to your health, it's better to have the shape of a pear than the shape of an apple. If you have an apple shape - a potbelly or a spare tire - you carry more fat around your abdominal organs. Abdominal fat increases your risk of many of the serious conditions associated with obesity. Women's waist circumference measurements should be less than 35 inches. Men's should be less than 40 inches. these are rough cutoffs, but in general, the smaller the waist measurement the better. |
