What About Body Weight?
People come in all shapes and sizes. There is no one defined body size that fits
everyone. Being underweight, overweight, or obese increases a person’s risk for
weight-related health problems. Being active and eating well will help you achieve
and maintain a normal body weight, increasing your potential for good health. Health
Canada suggests two body weight measurements to find out if your weight is putting
your health at risk. These are Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC).
These measurements work for most adults, for more information:
Is your weight putting your health at risk?
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What does my BMI tell me?
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Classification
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BMI Category
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Risk of developing health problems
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Underweight
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< 18.5
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Increased
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Normal Weight
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18.5 - 24.9
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Least
|
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Overweight
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25.0 - 29.9
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Increased
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Obese class I
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30.0 - 34.9
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High
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Obese class II
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35.0 - 39.9
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Very high
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Obese class III
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>= 40.0
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Extremely high
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Waist Circumference
Have another person measure your waist. Mark a point midway between your lower rib
and the top of your hipbone. Place the measuring tape around your stomach starting
at this point. The tape should be resting against your skin, not pressing into it.
The tape should be parallel to the floor. Measure your waist circumference the same
way each time to see if there has been a change.
There is an increased risk of health problems for:
- Men with a waist circumference greater than or equal to 102 centimetres (40 inches)
- Women with a waist circumference greater than or equal to 88 centimetres (35 inches)
Obesity Management Kit: Waist Circumference Tape Measure and DVD
Even if the BMI of an individual is in the 'normal weight' range,
a high WC indicates some health risk.
Source: Body Mass Index (BMI) Nomogram, Health
Canada, 2003-09-19. Adapted and reproduced with the permission of the Minister of
Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2008.