How can you tell if you have the right weight for your body?

If you're underweight, overweight or obese, then you're at risk of certain health problems. Ask your doctor for help; he or she will advise you
how you can adjust your diet and lifestyle.

Body mass index (BMI) is one way to tell whether you are at a healthy weight, overweight or obese. It measures your weight in relation to your height.

Measure your height and weight and then see where you fall on the chart below. If you are in the overweight or obese range on the chart, you are more likely to have certain health problems.

Another rough check to see if you're at risk for health problems caused by excess weight or obesity, is to measure your waist.

If you're female and your waist is more than 35 inches, or you're male and your waist is above 40 inches, then your risk of disease is higher.

This is what you need to know about being overweight and about being underweight:

Risks of Being Overweight

Extra weight can put you at higher risk for:

• High blood sugar (Type 2 diabetes)

• High blood pressure

• Heart disease and stroke

• Some types of cancer

• Sleep apnea (when breathing stops for short periods during sleep)

• Osteoarthritis (wearing away of the joints)

• Irregular periods

• Problems with pregnancy such as high blood pressure, or increased    risk of a caesarean instead of a natural delivery

Risks of Being Underweight

Many people think that being very thin is healthy and attractive. Some people are thin but healthy; their bodies are built in such a way that their physique is small and slender. For many of us, however, the supermodel look may come with some health problems.

Many underweight people may not have very strong bones. They have fewer nutrient reserves in their bodies, which means that illnesses can affect them more strongly. Being underweight can make women's periods irregular, which may affect fertility.

If you think you might be underweight and you always feel tired, see your doctor for advice. If you consciously restrict your diet, or feel very anxious at the thought of losing weight, you might have an eating disorder. Again, talk to your doctor as soon as possible.

Your doctor can also advise you on how to change your lifestyle so you can come to a healthy weight.

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