Overweight and obesity may increase the risk of many health problems, including:
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure
Heart disease and strokes
Certain types of cancer
Sleep apnea
Osteoarthritis
Fatty liver disease
Kidney disease
Pregnancy problems, such as high blood sugar during pregnancy, high blood pressure, and increased risk for cesarean delivery (C-section)
Body Mass Index (BMI)
BMI is one way to tell whether you are at a normal weight, overweight, or suffering from obesity.
BMI measures your weight in relation to your height and provides a score to help you in a category:
Normal weight: BMI of 18.5 to 24.9
Overweight: BMI of 25 to 29.9
Obesity: BMI of 30 or higher
Are you over weight?
Two numbers may help you understand your risk:
Your body mass index (BMI) score and
Your waist size in inches
Waist Size
Another important number to know is your waist size in inches.
Having too much fat around your waist may increase health risks even more than having fat in other parts of your body.
Women with a waist size of more than 35 inches and men with a waist size of more than 40 inches may have higher chances of developing diseases related to obesity.
Benefits of being healthy
Maintaining a normal weight may help you and your loved ones stay healthier as grow older.