What is Obesity?

I am frequently asked the question - Am I obese?
Surprisingly many people fall into one of 2 categories regarding how they perceive their weight - either they are of normal weight and think they are obese, or they are overweight and think that they have a normal weight.

We use the Body Mass Index (BMI) to define normal, overweight and obese individuals.

What is BMI? It is a number calculated using a person's weight and height.
BMI = Weight (in kilograms) / Height (in meters) squared. (Weight in lbs. x 0.45 / height in inches x 0.025 squared)
Below are the ranges:

BMI                                                               Weight Category

< 18                                                                    Underweight
18 - 24                                                                Normal
25 - 30                                                                Overweight
30 - 40                                                                Obese
> 40                                                                    Morbidly Obese

So you can see where you are by checking on a BMI chart, or calculating your BMI, using the formula above.

However this is not the only measure of an unhealthy weight. Remember people with increased muscle mass (e.g. athletes) may have a higher BMI, but are not obese.

So another important measure is the Waist/Hip Ratio (WHR).
Men should have a WHR < 1.0 and women should have a ratio < 0.85.
The WHR is an indicator of visceral fat (abdominal fat) which is a predictor of obesity-related diseases e.g. diabetes, cardio-vascular disease, etc.

Unfortunately a lot of people who go on vigorous weight loss diets, end up gaining visceral fat and thereby becoming unhealthier. With a very rigorous diet, one ends up losing body muscle, and when the weight comes back - it comes back not as muscle, but as body fat.

So definitely watch your diet, but don't over do it. A 'slow and steady' approach with well balanced small meals over the long term is the way to go.