| 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
Underweight Below 18.5
Normal 18.5 - 24.9
Overweight 25.0 - 29.9
Obesity 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.
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