How to Know If You Are Obese or Overweight

What would you call a person who weighs 200 Lbs? Wait, do not make any guesses yet. Ask for more input.

Everyone wants to know how fat is 'fat'? In other words, how much should you weigh to be called obese or over-weight. But lets first clarify few things quickly. It important to know the difference between over-weight and obese. The two terms are not exactly the same. They, however, are parts of the same spectrum. Former being the milder form of the latter.

Never interpret body weight as one factor. It should always be judged with respect to your height. Therefore, two people having the same weight may fall on two different places of this spectrum. A 200 Lbs person may be normal, over-weight or obese depending upon his height.

Follow the steps below to know whether you are normal, overweight or obese:

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Calculator
• Measuring tape
• Weight scale

1. Learn the concept of BMI or Body Mass Index. BMI is the most widely accepted assessment of obesity.

2. Calculate your BMI by using one of the following formulas:
   
   BMI = (Weight in pounds) / [(height in inches) x (height in inches)] x 703
   
   BMI = weight in kilograms / (height in meters) x (height in meters)

3. Know that BMI is measured in kg/m².

4. Interpret your BMI as follows:
   
   If your BMI is less than 18.5 kg/m² you are underweight.
   If your BMI is between 18.5 kg/m² and 24.9 kg/m² you are normal.
   If your BMI is between 25.0 kg/m² and 29.9 kg/m² you are Overweight.
   If your BMI is above 30.0 kg/m² you are obese.

5. Classify your obesity as follows:
   
   You are class I obese if your BMI is between 30.0 kg/m² and 34.9 kg/m²
   You are class II obese if your BMI is between 35.0 kg/m² and 39.9 kg/m²
   You are class III obese if your BMI is above 40.0 kg/m²

[bushbash]

on 9/5/2009 excellent and easy to understand...thanks

[shahbasharat]

on 7/17/2009 reply for 'RFerriANP': diagnosing obesity by 'honest look in the mirror' is an unprofessional approach. modern medicine is evidence based and evidence must be objective not just subjective. example: there is a psychological disorder called 'Body dysmorphic disorder' where people have a firm belief that they are obese or underweight. unless you have an objective tool to assess their situation you as a clinician will not only frustrate the patient but also yourself.

[shahbasharat]

on 7/17/2009 Like any other medical test 'BMI' also has false positive results. BMI could falsely tell you that you are 'fat' especially if you are muscular and athletic. but to detect the false positivity of BMI all you need is a little bit of common sense. Also, you should know that the BMI classification of obesity has been issued by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and not by any commercial insurance company. .

[RFerriANP]

on 7/12/2009 Hold on there. This information in this article in CLINCIALLY flawed and can lead to a tremendous amount of inappropriate interpretation. The BMI scale that is most commonly used to "determine" obesity and such is based on health/life insurance data and NOT medical data. If someone were to look at just my height and weight I would end up in the overweight (or "fat") column by those insurance standards instead of being very healthy, muscular with a very low and healthy body fat index. Telling readers that a simple BMI chart informs them if they are obese, fat, overweight, or whatever is misleading. Maybe an honest look in a mirror would be more helpful?

[lilolladystuff]

on 7/12/2009
Thanks for the info.