What's A Healthy Weight?

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Many Americans struggle to control their weight. The country’s obesity problem is well known: 1 in 3 of us is obese, and the rate is rising.
But you still might wonder what a healthy weight is, and how to get there (and stay there) the right way. 
Remember as you read what the experts say, cutting calories is not about eating less food, it's about eating food with fewer calories. When you eat high-calorie food and drinks you add body fat.

Body Mass Index (BMI)


It’s pretty easy to figure out the estimated healthy weight. You can use two simple tools.
The first is called body mass index (BMI).
To figure out your BMI, just use this math formula: Multiply your weight in pounds by 703 and divide it by your height (in inches) squared. So, for example, if you weigh 185 pounds and are 5-foot-5 (65 inches), then your BMI works out this way:
185 x 703 = 130,055
65 x 65 = 4,225
130,005 ÷ 4,225 = 30.78 (round up to 30.8)
Obesity in adults is defined as having a BMI of 30.0 or above. The other ranges are:
  • Overweight = 25.0 to 29.9
  • Normal weight = 18.5 to 24.9
  • Underweight = under 18.5
BMI is a common tool to give you some idea of where you are. But it doesn’t measure body fat. It’s not meant to give a diagnosis or tell you for sure that you have a weight problem.
For an example of how it can be off, muscular people might have a high BMI without being obese. And BMI can underestimate fat in older people and others who have lost muscle.
If you think you are obese or have questions about a healthy weight, talk to your doctor.

Measure Your Waist


There’s a second way to get an idea of how close you are to a healthy weight -- just measure your waist.
The waist is key because tummy fat can be more serious and put you at a greater risk of things like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Like BMI, measuring your waist doesn’t show for sure that you’re overweight. They are both common, general screening tools. But in general, here are the guidelines for men and women:
  • A man’s waist should be no more than 40 inches
  • If you’re a woman who isn’t pregnant, it should be no more than 35 inches.
Here’s how to measure your waist:
  • Stand up and wrap a measuring tape around your waist (just above the hipbones).
  • The tape should be snug but not pressed into your skin.
  • Breathe out before you measure.

Continued


Waist-to-Hip Ratio


Doctors have another tool based on the inches around your hips compared with the inches around your waist.
To figure out your waist-to-hip ratio:
  1. Measure your waist at the thinnest part.
  2. Measure your hips at the widest part.
  3. Divide the waist by the hips.
Men with a waist-to-hip ratio higher than 0.9 have too much of a belly (think apple-shaped). Women with a number higher than 0.85 are carrying too much weight (more like a pear).
The waist-to-hip guidelines differ by sex because men tend to carry extra weight in their bellies, while women show it more in the hips and buttocks.

How Do I Get to the Right Weight?


Several things help determine a person’s weight, including genes and hormones. But being obese usually comes from eating more calories than you use. Your body holds on to extra calories and turns them into fat.
So there are two things you must change to lose weight in a healthy and lasting way:
  1. Eat right. Americans love fast food, sodas, and processed foods. They add up.
  2. Move more. Our lifestyles can be short on exercise, playing, or just moving enough to burn the fuel we take in.
Your doctor might also want to talk about:
  • Other behavioral changes
  • Medicines
  • Weight-loss surgery

Long-term Changes Are Best


If a diet sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The same goes for promises that you’ll lose weight fast without changing your diet or exercise habits.
A loss of 1 to 2 pounds a week is about right. So think “slow and steady” to keep the weight off for good.
For your diet:
  • Eat more fruits and vegetables.
  • Get good protein and plenty of fiber.
  • Limit salt, sugar, and fat.
  • Be careful with your portions.
Talk to your doctor about how many calories you should consume to lose weight. For women it’s generally up to 1,500 calories a day; for men it’s up to 1,800.
You’ll need to cut your calories by 500 to 1,000 calories a day to lose that 1-2 pounds per week.
For movement:
  • Aim for about 2.5 hours of aerobic exercise (like brisk walking) every week. You’ll likely need even more than that to lose weight.
  • Do some muscle strengthening at least twice a week.
  • Add ordinary movement to that, as well, to burn calories throughout the day. (Park far from entrances. Take walks around the neighborhood. Get up from your desk and move regularly).

Look for my podcast by searching “How Bad Do You Want To Lose Weight” on the podcast app that you use. You’ll see a piece of my book cover.


If you really want to lose your body fat look for my e-books at the websites listed below. You'll get information on Healthy eating, exercise, and diet. Instead of spending hours on the internet reading dozens of posts, you can save time by picking up one of my e-books. 


There are two e-books. “How Bad Do You Want To Lose Weight?” is available at all the online bookstores selling for $3.99. Go to any of the websites below and search the title to find my e-book. This book gives you all you need to lose weight without spending money on gym memberships, diet plans, or meal plans. Look for my book. at Amazon.com, bn.com, iBooks, Kobo.com, Scribd.com, or Gardner Books in the U.K.


My new e-book is available on Smashwords.com and other online bookstores. Just type “getting to a Healthy Weight” in the search box at the top of the home page. 

 


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