How to Tell If You're Overweight

Excerpt from FC&A's The Senior's Guide to Metabolism.

How to tell if you're overweight – 3 easy ways.

Figure out whether you need to lose weight before you start any ambitious diet plans.

Measure your waist. The circumference of your waist measures belly fat, the most dangerous kind of body fat. This makes it a good way to “measure” your risk of future health problems, like heart attack, diabetes, and stroke.

Find the tops of your hip bones. Wrap a tape measure around your waist there. It should be snug but not pinching your skin. Breathe out, then take your measurement. Your waistline should be smaller than 35 inches in women or 40 inches in men. A larger waistline is an indication of abdominal obesity.

Find your BMI. Body Mass Index, or BMI, estimates body fat, based on your height and weight. The Centers for Disease Control will calculate your BMI for free at the Web site www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi. Generally, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 means you are a normal weight, 25 to 29.9 overweight, and over 30 obese.

Figure your maximum weight. The Maximum Weight Limit (MWL) is the highest amount you should weigh, based on your gender and height. Find your MWL and compare it to your current weight. If you’re over the MWL, you know it’s time to slim down.

The baseline for men is 5-feet 9-inches tall and 175 pounds. Add 5 pounds to that weight for every inch taller you are than the baseline, or subtract 5 pounds for every inch shorter. If you’re a 5-foot 11-inch man, add 10 pounds to the total to get a Maximum Weight Limit of 185 pounds.

The baseline for women is 5-feet tall and 125 pounds. Add 4.5 pounds for every inch taller you are, or subtract 4.5 pounds for every inch shorter. So if you are a 5-foot 4-inch woman, add 18 pounds. Your Maximum Weight Limit is 143 pounds.

Keep in mind, the MWL is not your ideal weight. It’s the heaviest you should weigh for your height and gender.