Tue Dec 04 2018
What is the ideal weight for a person? Is the ideal weight different for different ages and genders?
The ideal weight for a person is always considered in association with his height. As other factors such as race, age and gender cannot be easily compared across the globe. The Internationally accepted measure for body weight is called BODY MASS INDEX.
BODY MASS INDEX:
It is a simple measure which can give us an idea about our weight. On the basis of our BMI, we can be categorised as follows.
https://images.healthonics.healthcare/bmi-calculator/
Now lets consider an example to see the use of BMI.
Does BMI have any limitations?
Yes BMI does have a few limitations.
Keeping in mind these limitations of BMI calculation, we need to also have some other way of measuring the body fat distribution of a person.
‘Waist circumference’ gives us an idea of increasing body fat and level of risk of developing serious health problems.
WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE:
Waist circumference is measured at the level midway between upper part of hip bone and lower end of rib cage. i.e. at the level just above belly button with the help of a measuring tape. It is measured in Centimeters or Inches.
Waist circumference above the normal limit increases risk of getting affected with obesity related health hazards.
There is one more equally important parameter which gives an idea of visceral fat / abdominal obesity is Waist to Hip ratio
WAIST HIP RATIO:
In simple words, it is a comparison of measurement of waist to that of hip.