Evaluation of Weight

If you need to lose weight, you are not alone. It is estimated that 97 million adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese, a condition that dramatically raises their risk of morbidity from high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and/or triglycerides, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, and endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon cancers. Obese individuals may also suffer from social stigmatization and discrimination. Today, as the second leading cause of preventable death in the U. S., overweight and obesity pose a major public health challenge.

Body Mass Index
BMI is a formula using your height and weight, which indicates body fatness:

The BMI value is NOT designed for:

• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Children and adolescents (18 years or younger)
• Body builders or competitive athletes
• Frail elderly individuals

 

Waist Circumference
A large waist means you have excess fat in the abdomen that is out of proportion to total body fat. Fat in the abdomen is a predictor of risk factors and morbidity.
For MEN a large waist circumference is greater than 40 inches.
For WOMEN a large waist circumference is greater than 35 inches.

If you need to lose weight and would like to have help from a dietitian, click here.