The calculations are easy, and no special equipment is required. While both measurements have their limitations, they are reasonable indicators that someone may have a weight problem. Two widely used methods are weight-for-height tables and body mass index (BMI). Measuring a person's body fat percentage can be difficult, so other methods are often relied upon to diagnose obesity. Men with a waist circumference of 40 inches or greater and women with a waist circumference of 35 inches or greater are considered to have increased health risks related to obesity.Īre weight-for-height tables useful to determine obesity? Women with waist-to-hip ratios of more than 0.8 and men with waist-to-hip ratios of more than 1.0 are "apples."Īnother rough way of estimating the amount of a person's abdominal fat is by measuring the waist circumference. For example, a woman with a 35-inch waist and 46-inch hips would have a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.76 (35 divided by 46 = 0.76). Measure the waist at its narrowest point, and then measure the hips at the widest point divide the waist measurement by the hip measurement. To find out a person's waist-to-hip ratio The measurement is called waist-to-hip ratio. In order to sort the types of fruit, doctors have developed a simple way to determine whether someone is an apple or a pear. While obesity of any kind is a health risk, it is better to be a pear than an apple. They are at increased health risk because of their fat distribution. (This is not a hard and fast rule some men are pear-shaped and some women become apple-shaped, particularly after menopause.)Īpple-shaped people whose fat is concentrated mostly in the abdomen are more likely to develop many of the health problems associated with obesity. Men, on the other hand, usually collect fat around the belly, giving them more of an "apple" shape. In general, women collect fat in their hips and buttocks, giving their figures a "pear" shape. The pattern of body fat distribution tends to differ in men and women. The World Health Organization uses a classification system using the BMI to define overweight and obesity.Ī BMI of 25 to 29.9 is defined as a "pre- obese." A BMI of 30 to 34.99 is defined as "obese class I." A BMI of 35 to 39.99 is defined as "obese class II." A BMI of or greater than 40.00 is defined as "obese class III."Īssessment of obesity is directed not only at how much fat a person has, but also where that fat is located on the body. Generally, obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 30, which approximates 30 pounds of excess weight. Healthy weight is defined as a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 19 and less than 25 among all people 20 years of age or over. It is important to understand what "healthy weight" means. To calculate the BMI using pounds, divide the weight in pounds by the height in inches squared and multiply the result by 703. The BMI equals a person's weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (BMI = kg/m2). However, it may not be an accurate measurement of body fat for bodybuilders, certain athletes, and pregnant women. However, BMI is a useful general guideline and is a good estimator of body fat for most adults 19 and 70 years of age. BMI also does not provide information on a person's percentage of body fat. Not everyone agrees on the cutoff points for "healthy" versus "unhealthy" BMI ranges. The BMI measurement, however, poses some problems. The BMI uses a mathematical formula that accounts for both a person's weight and height. The body mass index ( BMI) is a measurement of choice for many physicians and researchers studying obesity. View your BMI number at the center of the tool and see where you fall on the obesity chart.īMI values are based on clinical data about averages for these measurements across a wide swath of people.Set the height and weight dials to match your own height and weight.Use the switch on top to pick either metric or imperial measurements.The default BMI of 16.6 shown on the tool is for a 5'5" person who weighs 100 lbs.A high or “ obese” score from the BMI calculator tool is simply a way to tell clinicians to look deeper into a person's health data for evidence of obesity-related health risks and disease. For instance, people with muscular builds may be classified as “ obese” according to the body mass index, even with a small body fat percentage. Ideal weights vary from individual to individual and usually increase with age. If you're not satisfied with the results, take heart: There is no single ideal weight and height for men and women. This BMI calculator will let you screen yourself for obesity using the same tool doctors and medical researchers use.