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A tape measure is used in conjunction with the body mass index to give a clearer picture of obesity. ULTRA.F/Digital Vision/Getty Images When determining the risk factors that go along with your weight, several factors come into play. The BMI, or body mass index, has been the go-to measuring device for most folks when it comes to determining obesity, but even it has its limitations. An MSNBC report published in 2006 indicates that a simple tape measure can provide a more defined overall picture when it comes to the health risks posed by excess weight.
BMI
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To properly measure BMI, enter only your height and your weight into any variety of online BMI calculators, such as the one found at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Anything over a 25 BMI indicates you are overweight, and anything over 30 BMI indicates obesity. However, used in and of itself the BMI is not a diagnostic tool. Other tests would need to be performed to determine health risk since the BMI does not indicate weight placement. Athletic individuals, for instance, could have a larger BMI but not be considered obese since muscle weighs more than fat.
WHR
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WHR, or waist-to-hip ratio, measures the difference between your hips and your waist and is a better indicator of the risk to heart health caused by your weight. If your belly bulges out to compete with the measurement of your hips, those abdominal fat stores indicate a change in your hormones and inflammation which could possibly lead to clogged arteries. To measure your WHR, measure at the narrowest part of your abdomen and the widest part of your hips. Divide the waist measurement by the hip measurement and that number is your WHR. For women, your WHR should be less than .80, and for men it should be less than .90. Anything higher than 1.0 indicates a higher risk to your heart.
Other Risk Factors
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The BMI and the WHR are your first level of defense against the diseases obesity has been attributed to, so either test that shows a troublesome result is reason to see your doctor. This is especially true if you have any other risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or a smoking habit. If you are considered overweight or obese and have more than two risk factors, a weight loss of as little as 5 or ten percent can have a positive impact on your health to lower your risks for disease.
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