Obesity-How to Measure It

Introduction

Obesity or being very fat has been on the rise by the day.
In this article, we are going to discuss how to define if one is obese or not in other words, to measure Obesity.

Why is knowing Obesity more important today?

As you can see in the picture above the title, being obese can cause many complications. Some of these like high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes are very important for leading a healthy life.

Are there any ways to a way to measure this fattiness?

Yes, there are and they are as follows:-

1]Body Mass Index

Popularly known as BMI, this is calculated by dividing your body weight by your height in square meters. 

2] Waist and Hip Circumference

The waist to hip ratio also helps whether you are obese

3] Basal Metabolic Rate

The Basal Metabolic Rate or simply BMR is the energy that the body requires at rest to carry out its bodily function while resting. The lower the BMR the better. To know more about your BMR, click here

4]Body Fat Measurement

Nowadays there are many gadgets that can measure the amount or quantity of fats in our body.
Measuring skin thickness is one way of doing it. I use this gadget in my Clinic body fat analysis-

 Ideal Body Weight

I would now like you to know how to calculate your ideal body weight first. There is a simple formula to do this- you can calculate by using this formula-
A] Men:- 52+ 1.9 kg per inch over 5 feet.
[For eg., if you are 5 feet 6 inches, your ideal body weight will be 52+ 1.9 x 6= 63.4 kg]
B] Women:- 49+ 1.7 kg per inch over 5 feet.

Having specified the methods, now let us analyze them one by one-

1] Your BMI:-

In the Western countries, where climatic conditions and eating habits are different, the Body Mass Index values to differentiate Normal To Obese are as follows{as shown in the picture below}:-

a]Normal-below 25kg/sq.mtr.
b]Underweight:-below 18kg/sq.mtr.
c]Overweight[Grade 1]:-25.00 to 29.9kg/sq.mtr.
d]Overweight [Grade 2]:-30.0 to 39.9 kg/sq.mtr.
e]Overweight [Grade 3]:- above 40 kg/sq.mtr.[this is also called morbid obesity]
In India, this definition of BMI is slightly different, as shown below:-
a]Underweight:- Below 18 kg/sq.mtr.
b]Normal :- 18.0 to 22.9 kg/sq.mtr.
c]Overweight:- 23 to 24.9 kg/sq.mtr.
d]Obese :- above 25 kg/sq.mtr.
You can also calculate your ideal body weight, BMI and body fat by using this calculator-

In India, we will be looking to treat those having a BMI above 23.0 kg/sq.mtr. These people are not necessarily fat. They have central obesity. Meaning that their girth around the trunk or the waist is more. Some researchers call an obese Indian a thin fat man.
2] Your Waist Circumference:- A simpler way to know if you are overweight/obese is to measure your waist circumference. Do this by measuring the circumference of the trunk just above the naval button.

Likewise, you can measure the circumference of your hip by using a measuring tape around the maximum point around the torso.
The table below shows the different categories of individuals based on waist circumference.
Table 1

The Waist to Hip Ratio-

Now calculate your waist to hip ratio by dividing the value of the waist by the value of the hip.
A waist to hip ratio of 0.80 in women and 0.90 in men is considered ideal. Any value above this is a sign of either being overweight or obese.

How do these measurements help-

Now that you know how to calculate these measurements, you can determine if you are-

• Normal
• Overweight
• Obese
• Severely Obese

Knowing this can make you aware of your present health condition and take steps to overcome health issues like heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, etc.
Circumference of Your Waist is Directly Proportional to Your Weight! Click To Tweet

You can control obesity by staying active and becoming less sedentary. Click here to know how.