BMI at a Glance

< 18.5		Underweight
18.5 to 24.9		Normal
25 to 29.9		Overweight
≥ 30		Obese

Body mass index, or BMI, is a measurement of your weight in relation to your height and is used to gauge your percentage of body fat.

Health problems associated with overweight and obesity

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Cardiovascular disease, including atherosclerosis, angina and heart attack
• Stroke
• Type 2 diabetes
• Cancer
• Osteoarthritis
• Sleep apnea
• Fatty liver disease
• Gallbladder disease

Risk factors for obesity

• Poor diet
• Inactivity
• Family history of obesity
• Increased age
• Psychological factors, including depression and emotional eating
• Smoking
• Pregnancy
• Certain medications
• Medical conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome or thyroid disorders
• Alcohol consumption

Preventing obesity
To keep from becoming overweight or obese, you should maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly. A healthy diet consists of eating nutrient-rich foods that are high in fiber and low in saturated fat, trans fat and salt. This means eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains (like brown rice, oatmeal, and whole wheat bread), beans and legumes, lean meats, fish and low-fat or no-fat dairy products. Regular exercise should include at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity most or all days of the week. Strength training is also a great way to avoid gaining excess weight. Muscle burns three times more calories than fat by increasing your resting metabolic rate (the rate at which your body uses up calories when you’re not being physically active). Talk with your doctor to determine a diet and exercise plan that's right for you.