It can be difficult to figure out what your ideal weight should be. There are plenty of charts on the Internet that give you a range according to gender and height, but there are many factors that aren’t taken into consideration: age, build, fitness levels and more.
So other than looking at charts, what are your options?
BMI
You’ve probably heard about calculating your Body Mass Index. BMI calculates the amount of fat in your body based on your height and weight alone. When those two factors are entered into the equation, your BMI number will fall into one of four categories:
- Underweight = 18.5 or less
- Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
- Overweight = 25-29.9
- Obesity = 30 or greater
BMI is not considered to be the best measurement of ideal weight by many experts, but it is a starting point.
Waist-Hip Ratio
The waist-hip ratio is a good indicator of the possibility of risk for heart disease and other weight-related problems. Calculating this ratio is simple: Take your waist measurement in inches and divide by your hip circumference in inches.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the following ratios are ideal and considered “safe:”
- For men, a ratio of .90 or less.
- For women, a ratio of .80 or less.
For both men and women, a waist-hip ratio of 1.0 or higher is considered risky.
Now what?
If you’ve used any of the above charts or formulas to calculate your weight and aren’t happy with the numbers are you see, contact us about safe and effective weight loss.
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