I am posting this article in response to a FAQ from my website. Many people are asking how they know if by being overweight they are putting their health at risk and what is being overweight? This got me looking into BMI, body Mass Index and the healthy weight chart.
The healthy weight chart is a fairly crude formula that takes into account many general factors relating to the overall body shape of a person.
The healthy weight chart sometimes referred to as the height weight chart can be very confusing to some people.
Let me explain. These two tools are used as a basis for the calculation of the well known BMI measurement system for measuring Body Mass Index.
In recent times many people have questioned the accuracy of such a system that is based on such generalised personal information as height and weight and is constructed using comparative data that dates back 40 years.
There is a particular problem with the modern diet that means that many of us now carry excessive and disproportionate amounts of fat around our waistline.
The height weight chart is used to give an approximation of whether you are within a healthy weight range.
The healthy weight range system was established by collecting data from the population as a whole.
For the vast majority of the population the height weight chart gives a realistic picture of where you are within the range of healthy weight.
The real question though is, if the height weight chart can be relied upon?
Caution, there are cases where the results have been incorrect for example:
We found that a taller than average man who was considered to be in the healthy weight range had developed some liver function problems.
When fat is accumulated in the middle abdominal area it can increase the probability of fatty liver disease.
So if you are a tall person who tends to carry weight around the middle of your body you should ask your doctor for advice, and NOT rely on BMI as a measure of your healthy weight.
Conclusion: Instead of relying on a generalised BMI healthy weight system you should pay attention to fat distribution in the abdominal region and also overall body fat percentage as a more accurate and personalised approach to determining healthy weight.
The healthy weight chart is a fairly crude formula that takes into account many general factors relating to the overall body shape of a person.
The healthy weight chart sometimes referred to as the height weight chart can be very confusing to some people.
Let me explain. These two tools are used as a basis for the calculation of the well known BMI measurement system for measuring Body Mass Index.
In recent times many people have questioned the accuracy of such a system that is based on such generalised personal information as height and weight and is constructed using comparative data that dates back 40 years.
There is a particular problem with the modern diet that means that many of us now carry excessive and disproportionate amounts of fat around our waistline.
The height weight chart is used to give an approximation of whether you are within a healthy weight range.
The healthy weight range system was established by collecting data from the population as a whole.
For the vast majority of the population the height weight chart gives a realistic picture of where you are within the range of healthy weight.
The real question though is, if the height weight chart can be relied upon?
Caution, there are cases where the results have been incorrect for example:
We found that a taller than average man who was considered to be in the healthy weight range had developed some liver function problems.
When fat is accumulated in the middle abdominal area it can increase the probability of fatty liver disease.
So if you are a tall person who tends to carry weight around the middle of your body you should ask your doctor for advice, and NOT rely on BMI as a measure of your healthy weight.
Conclusion: Instead of relying on a generalised BMI healthy weight system you should pay attention to fat distribution in the abdominal region and also overall body fat percentage as a more accurate and personalised approach to determining healthy weight.
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