I recently did some research for an article that was requested by several readers to my website. The question was, Am I Overweight? This got me thinking about how we determine healthy weight and the tools we use such as the healthy weight chart.
In my article I explain the differences between the different methods of calculating the healthy weight range of an individual using the healthy weight chart.
The healthy weight chart sometimes referred to as the height weight chart can be very confusing to some people.
To clarify, these charts can be used to produce a rough idea of where we are in a healthy weight range, what band we fall into based on a height and weight formula.
There are some questions about the accuracy of this system. The height weight chart has been around for several decades and many of us have seen it pinned up on the medical practitioner's wall when we have visited the surgery.
The problem is that some people especially those who are taller than the average person, can be given a false sense of security when using the height weight chart as a measure of healthy weight.
The height weight chart is used to give an approximation of whether you are within a healthy weight range.
The healthy weight range system was established by collecting data from the population as a whole.
For the vast majority of the population the height weight chart gives a realistic picture of where you are within the range of healthy weight.
The real question though is, if the height weight chart can be relied upon?
Caution, there are cases where the results have been incorrect for example:
We found that a taller than average man who was considered to be in the healthy weight range had developed some liver function problems.
When fat is accumulated in the middle abdominal area it can increase the probability of fatty liver disease.
So if you are a tall person who tends to carry weight around the middle of your body you should ask your doctor for advice, and NOT rely on BMI as a measure of your healthy weight.
Conclusion: Instead of relying on a generalised BMI healthy weight system you should pay attention to fat distribution in the abdominal region and also overall body fat percentage as a more accurate and personalised approach to determining healthy weight.
In my article I explain the differences between the different methods of calculating the healthy weight range of an individual using the healthy weight chart.
The healthy weight chart sometimes referred to as the height weight chart can be very confusing to some people.
To clarify, these charts can be used to produce a rough idea of where we are in a healthy weight range, what band we fall into based on a height and weight formula.
There are some questions about the accuracy of this system. The height weight chart has been around for several decades and many of us have seen it pinned up on the medical practitioner's wall when we have visited the surgery.
The problem is that some people especially those who are taller than the average person, can be given a false sense of security when using the height weight chart as a measure of healthy weight.
The height weight chart is used to give an approximation of whether you are within a healthy weight range.
The healthy weight range system was established by collecting data from the population as a whole.
For the vast majority of the population the height weight chart gives a realistic picture of where you are within the range of healthy weight.
The real question though is, if the height weight chart can be relied upon?
Caution, there are cases where the results have been incorrect for example:
We found that a taller than average man who was considered to be in the healthy weight range had developed some liver function problems.
When fat is accumulated in the middle abdominal area it can increase the probability of fatty liver disease.
So if you are a tall person who tends to carry weight around the middle of your body you should ask your doctor for advice, and NOT rely on BMI as a measure of your healthy weight.
Conclusion: Instead of relying on a generalised BMI healthy weight system you should pay attention to fat distribution in the abdominal region and also overall body fat percentage as a more accurate and personalised approach to determining healthy weight.
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