What is a Healthy Weight For My Size?
There are two good indicators for finding out your ideal weight. The first is your waist size and the second is your body mass index, otherwise known as BMI. So let’s get right to it: what is a healthy weight for my size?
Measure Your Waistline
To determine if your waist size is ideal, it should be equal to about half of your height. For example, if you are 5′ 6″ tall, then that is 66 inches. Half of 66 is 33, so your waist size should be no more than 33 inches around.
Why Is Your Waist Size A Good Indicator for Being Fit?
People who store belly fat around their mid-section (apple-shaped) are much more at risk for serious diseases such as coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and even some cancers. Others who tend to store their fat around their hips (pear-shaped) have less of a risk of these diseases. It goes without saying then, storing fat around the belly area is not a good thing. If your waist size falls into the range of half of your height, you’re probably in good shape.
How To Determine Your BMI
So what exactly is BMI? BMI is simply a measure of the amount of body fat you have. It is based on a combination of your weight and height. There is a way to calculate your BMI based on a formula, but there are many websites that provide free BMI calculators which are probably easier to use.
Assessing Your BMI
By looking at a BMI chart, you will be able to tell what category you fall in. For example, the following is a list of BMI categories:
Underweight = less than 18.5
Normal Weight= 18.5 – 24.9
Overweight = 25 – 29.9
Obese = 30 or greater
Obviously it’s best if your BMI falls between 18.5 to 24.9, so aim to get your BMI within the normal weight range.
How Can I Get In Shape?
If you’ve just found that your health might be at risk because you need to lose weight, don’t despair. There are many weight loss programs to help you achieve your ideal weight. If you are ready to make a positive change, do your research first. You have many choices for diet and exercise plans so take the time to select one that fits in with your lifestyle. If you prefer to be unstructured, find a regimen that follows suit. Likewise, if you gravitate towards having meal plans thought out for you in advance, a more structured plan would be preferable to you. The simpler the program is to follow, the more likely you will be to succeed.