Weight Gain: Status Symbol or Health Risk? Plus Learn How to Calculate Your BMI

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According to the World Health Organization, being overweight and obese are the fifth leading risk factors for global deaths.

It’s not a problem of developed countries alone, there is a rise in incidence of overweight and obesity in developing countries. This is not a problem of adults alone; it’s getting increasingly common in children.

Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for many chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.

One of the ways of assessing classifying weight is by calculating the body mass index(BMI).The Body mass index is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height used to classify weight.

It’s calculated by the formula, weight (kg) divided by height2 (m2)

For example if your weight is 50kg and height is 1.5m, your BMI will be 50/(1.5)2 = 22.2.

BMI interpretation:

Below 18.5 Underweight

18.5-24.9 Normal

25.0-29.9 Overweight

30.0 and above Obese

 

Editor’s Note: If you don’t know your BMI, you can check it right here on our site: Check your BMI

 

 

 

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