Being overweight is usually defined as a condition in which
a person's weight is 10%-20% higher than "normal," as measured by a
standard height/weight chart, or as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 30.
Obesity is usually defined as a condition in which a
person's weight is 20% or more above normal weight or as a BMI of 30 or more.
Morbid obesity means a person is either 50%-100% over normal weight, more than
100 pounds over normal weight, or sufficiently overweight to severely interfere
with health or normal functioning.
You are not alone!
Approximately 60 million Americans, nearly one-third of all
adults and about one in five children, are obese. Colorado is the only state
that had an obesity rate less than 20%.
There are several tests that can be performed to determine
if you are overweight or obese. But measuring the exact amount of your body fat
is not easy. Some tests are just not that accurate.
What Tests Are Available to Diagnose Obesity?
Hydrostatic Body Fat Test. This is the most accurate test
given to assess body fat. During the test, you are submerged in water while
your underwater weight is recorded. This test is usually done at research and
academic centers, but now you can also find it done with mobile units.
Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). This is another
very accurate way to assess body fat. During this test, you must lay flat for
approximately 20 to 30 minutes while every section of your body is
systematically X-rayed in a CT scanner.
Unfortunately, these methods are not practical for the
average person, and are generally done only in research centers with special
equipment.
There are some test that are much easier to do.
Calipers. A caliper is a device that is used to measure the
amount of body fat on different parts of the body. Special computations provide
your percentage of body fat based on the various measurements of skinfold thickness.
You can find these tests in health clubs and commercial weight loss centers,
but the results are only accurate if performed correctly.
Bioelectrical Impedance, or BIA. This technique uses a
machine that sends harmless and painless electricity through a your body to
measure each of the different kinds of tissue.. These include the amount of
muscle and other lean tissue as well as the amount of fat and water in their
body. The greater amount of fat a person has, the greater the resistance the
electrical signal encounters. BIA is very accurate and is often available to
the public for purchase or can be found at gyms and rehabilitation centers, as
well as doctors' offices.
Height/weight charts. Special tables can be used to
determine if you’re overweight or obese. To get your ideal weight, you find
your height on the chart, decide if you are thick, medium, or thin framed and then
you can find the range of your ideal weights separate for males and females.
However, this technique is not always accurate. For example, the height/weight
tables could indicate that a lean, muscular person is "overweight"
(muscle weighs more than fat) while a person whose weight is within the
"normal" range might actually be carrying around more fatty tissue
than is healthy.
Body mass index. The BMI is now the most common tool used to
measure obesity. It measures your weight relative to your height. The ideal
range is 18.5-24.9. A person with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered to be
overweight and a BMI 30 to 39.9 indicates obesity and a BMI 40 and above
indicates morbid obesity. This technique has the same drawback as the
height/weight charts -- it does not take into account if a person is very
muscular.
Waist-to-hip ratio. This measures the risk of heart disease
from belly fat. To get this ratio, measure your weight circumference in inches
and divide it by your hip circumference. An abnormal ratio for women is 0.85
and higher; for men, it's 1.0 or higher.
So if you thinking of starting a weight loss plan you first
need to know if what your starting point is. Take one of the tests and once you
have your results you can use it as a baseline measurement for all of the
changes your body changes and muscle gains you are going to have.
Schedule your test today and …
Happy Losing!
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.