Part 1: Assessing Your
Risk
According to the NHLBI guidelines, assessment of overweight
involves using three key measures:
- body mass index (BMI)
- waist circumference, and
- risk factors for diseases and conditions associated
with obesity.
The BMI is a measure of your weight relative to your height
and waist circumference measures abdominal fat. Combining these with
information about your additional risk factors yields your risk for developing
obesity-associated diseases.
What is Your Risk?
1. Body Mass Index
(BMI)
BMI is a reliable indicator of total body fat, which is
related to the risk of disease and death. The score is valid for both men and
women but it does have some limits. The limits are:
- It may overestimate body fat in athletes and
others who have a muscular build.
- It may underestimate body fat in older persons and
others who have lost muscle mass.
Use the BMI
calculator or
tables to
estimate your total body fat. The BMI score means the following:
| |
BMI |
| Below 18.5 |
| 18.5 - 24.9 |
| 25.0 - 29.9 |
| 30.0 and Above |
|
2. Waist Circumference
Determine your waist circumference by placing a measuring
tape snugly around your waist. It is a good indicator of your abdominal fat
which is another predictor of your risk for developing risk factors for heart
disease and other diseases. This risk increases with a waist measurement of
over 40 inches in men and over 35 inches in women
The table, Risks of
Obesity-Associated Diseases by BMI and Waist Circumference, provides
you with an idea of whether your BMI combined with your waist circumference
increases your risk for developing obesity associated diseases or
conditions.
3. Other Risk Factors
Besides being overweight or obese, there are additional risk
factors to consider.
RISK FACTORS |
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- high LDL-cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol)
- low HDL-cholesterol ("good" cholesterol)
- high triglycerides
- high blood glucose (sugar)
- family history of premature heart disease
- physical inactivity
- cigarette smoking
|
|
4. Assessment
For people who are considered obese (BMI greater than or
equal to 30) or those who are overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9) and have two or
more risk factors, the guidelines recommend weight loss. Even a small weight
loss (just 10 percent of your current weight) will help to lower your risk of
developing diseases associated with obesity. Patients who are overweight, do
not have a high waist measurement, and have less than 2 risk factors may need
to prevent further weight gain rather than lose weight.
Talk to your doctor to see if you are at an increased risk
and if you should lose weight. Your doctor will evaluate your BMI, waist
measurement, and others risk factors for heart disease. People who are
overweight or obese have a greater chance of developing high blood pressure,
high blood cholesterol or other lipid disorders, type 2 diabetes, heart
disease, stroke, and certain cancers, and even a small weight loss (just 10
percent of your current weight) will help to lower your risk of developing
those diseases.
Continue to Part 2 to
find out how to lose and control your weight. |
