Do I Have a Weight Problem?

There are a number of ways to determine if you have a weight problem. Some are based on pre-determined medical guidelines. Other measures of overall physical well-being can be used to identify a weight condition.

• Medical Guidelines

  General guidelines have been established by the medical community as a way to help you decide your weight healthiness. As a rule of thumb, if you are 10% over the prescribed weight for your height, age, sex and body type, you are overweight.

  If you are 20% or more over the prescribed weight for your height, age, sex and body type, you are obese.

• Body Mass Index (BMI)

  Body Mass Index (BMI) is another guideline for determining your weight status. A BMI of 25 or greater indicates you are overweight. A BMI of 30+ indicates obesity.

• Overall Physical Condition

  In addition to overall medical guidelines and BMI, physical conditions can indicate your weight status.

  Symptoms such as fatigue, high blood pressure, low physical fitness or excercise, difficulty breathing, swollen feet and ankles and lower back pain may indicate an excess of body weight.