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A common measure of obesity is the Body Mass Index (BMI). It compares weight to height.
The index can’t tell the difference between fat and muscle. For instance, someone with more muscle (like an athlete) may have a high, “unhealthy” body mass index. But he or she would likely have a low risk of weight-related problems, like diabetes or a heart attack. For this reason, the index can’t always show when weight could lead to health problems.
The Body Mass Index also may not show obesity well in:
- People who are under 5 feet tall
- Older people who may have lost muscle mass
But, in general, doctors find it a useful tool to assess possible health risks for most adults. As your body mass index goes up, your health risks go up.
Here’s how they use the Body Mass Index:
| Underweight |
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| Normal weight |
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| Overweight |
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| Obese |
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| Severely obese |
Waist measurement
Doctors can also tell if you’re at a higher risk for health problems by where your body stores fat.
People who carry fat around the middle are more likely to have health problems than those who store fat in the hips and thighs. Even if your Body Mass Index is normal, having an “apple-shaped” body (more fat in the middle) means higher health risks than having a “pear-shaped” one (more fat in the hips/thighs).
How big you are around your waist will tell you whether you store fat around your middle. Here’s how to check it:
- Pull a tape measure snug around the largest part of your waist.
- In general, men with waists of 40 inches or more are at higher risk of having health problems.
- For women, it is 35 inches.
Try the Waist-To-Hip Ratio Calculator to see if you’re apple- or pear-shaped.
Doctors have other ways of measuring body fat. But, in most cases, they use body mass and waist measurements.
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