How much you weigh has a great deal to do with your health. Diseases that are known to stem from obesity are type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, respiratory problems, gallstones, and some forms of cancer, to name a few. There might not be an ideal weight calculator, but you can use a body mass index (BMI) chart to determine the target weight that is right for you. A body mass index chart is a quick way to tell where you are compared to ideal weight. If your BMI is 25 to 29.9, you are classified as overweight. If your BMI is 30 or higher, you meet the conditions of being obese. Ideally, you would like a BMI between 20 and 25.
The BMI is a calculation based on height and weight and is the basis of any primary body fat calculator, but there are variables that cause somewhat erroneous estimates. If you are athletic and have a muscular build, your body contains more muscle than the person with an average build, so the fat will be overestimated. On the other hand, if you are an older person, your fat estimate may be low because you have lost muscle due to inactivity. In addition, weight distribution has an impact on health risk – the circumference of the waist is a good indicator of health risk. If most of your body fat is around your waist instead of your hips, you have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. For men, the risk is more with waist sizes of 40 or more, and in women it increases after 35 inches.
When assessing your health risk, the BMI chart is a good place to start when you want to evaluate what you should do about your weight. Losing just a few pounds through exercise and eating well can help with your diabetes control and can reduce your risk for other health problems. However, for those of us where losing “even a few pounds” is a major battle, the placement of an intragastric balloon offers an effective jumpstart towards achieving a fitter and healthier you.
