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- Useful information & advice
Am I a healthy weight? - The Body Mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. It is defined as the individual’s body mass divided by the square of their height – with the value universally being given in units of kg/m2.
You are a healthy weight if your BMI is:
Caucasian: 18.5 – 25
Indian, Asian, Oriental: 18.5 – 23
Obesity - Obesity is when you have excess body fat that has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems. People are considered obese when their body mass index (BMI) exceeds 30 kg/m2.
Obesity increases the likelihood of various diseases, particularly heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea, certain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. It is usually caused by a combination of excessive food energy intake and lack of physical activity.
Calculate your BMI using this NHS tool.
For more information and advice on obesity go to the NHS website