There are several simple ways of checking whether your current weight or body shape is likely to affect your health. These include checking your waist size and calculating your Body Mass Index (BMI)
HOW DO YOU SHAPE UP?
If you are overweight, your body cannot use insulin as well as it should, which means that your diabetes control may not be as good as it could be. Carrying too much weight around your middle increases your risk of heart disease and diabetes as this can make you insulin resistant and have a bad effect on your blood pressure and blood fat.
HEALTH BENEFITS
If you are overweight and are able to lose some of it:
Your diabetes control should improve
You may be able to take fewer tablets or inject less insulin
You may enjoy exercise
You will feel more confident
Helps prevents conditions such as heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure
If overweight a 5-10 % weight loss can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Guidelines used by doctors shows a 10kg weight loss can significantly reduce blood pressure and cholesterol
ARE YOU AN APPLE OR A PEAR?
People carrying weight around the middle are often referred to as apple-shaped whereas who carry the weight on their hips are pear-shaped. Someone who is ‘apple-shaped’ has greater health risks than someone who is ‘pear shaped’ even if they are both overweight.
WAIST MEASUREMENTS
Measuring your waist is an easy way of finding out whether you are an ‘apple’ or ‘pear’. To measure your waist: find the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips. Measure around your middle at a point mid-way between these (for many people this will be the tummy button). Use the information below to see if you are at risk of ill health. You are at risk if you waist Measurement is:
Asian Men greater than 90cm or (35 inches)
European and Black Men greater than 94cm or (37 inches)
Women, Asian, black and European Greater than 80cm or (31.5 inches)
WHAT’S YOUR BODY MASS INDEX?
Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is one of the main ways of finding out if your weight is putting your health at risk. It is based on your height and weight and can be worked out from the chart.Download the BMI chart at the bottom of the page. Measure your height and weight and draw a line from your weight and across from your height. Where the lines cross shows your risk level. You can also calculate it by taking your weight in kilograms and dividing it by your height (in metres) squared. See below for the categories
BMI=Weight(KG)/ height (M)2 Or BMI = weight (kg)/(height (m) x height (m))
Underweight: a BMI of up to 18.4, Asian adult less than 18.5
Healthy weight: a BMI of 18.5–24.9, Asian adult 18.5–22.9
Overweight: a BMI of 25–29.9, Asian adult 23–24.9
Obese: a BMI of 30–39.9, Asian adult 25–34.9
Morbidly obese: a BMI of 40 or more, Asian adult 35 or more These are just guidelines
IF YOU ARE AT RISK
If you are at increased risk it is important to stop and think about your waist size. Perhaps now would be a good time to make healthy lifestyle changes that would prevent any further increase. If you are at high risk then losing weight and reducing your waist size would improve your health. Changing dietary habits and becoming more physically active would have many benefits.
BMI Chart Provided by LNDS (PDF 117KB)