Where you carry weight may be as important as how much weight you
carry.
Research shows that carrying fat around the middle, or having an
apple-shaped
physique, increases the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure,
stroke, and
diabetes. Carrying fat in the hips and thighs, or having a pear shape, is
not as
harmful to your health.
Waist-hip ratio Calculator
The waist-hip-ratio calculates the relation between hip and waist
circumference
and tells you if you are rather an "apple" or "pear" type
The apple type:
The apple type:
The apple type has normal shoulders and gains weight in the stomach
region.
The Pear type:
The pear type has narrow shoulders and is relatively thin around the
chest.
The waist is normal. The pear type gains weight at the waist and upper
thighs.
The pear type is found more often by women and the apple
type by men. An obese
apple type has a larger risk of getting a heart attack, whereas the pear
type is less
likely to get heart or circulatory diseases.
Fat predominantly distributed around the waist is also a risk factor
for health complications
such as cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes. Fat predominantly
deposited around
the hips and buttocks doesn't have this same risk.
Being overweight or underweight can affect your
health
If you are overweight (BMI over 25), you may develop:
Cardiovascular (heart and blood circulation) disease
Gall bladder disease
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
Osteoarthritis-this is induced by the excess weight of obesity and
can be a major problem. If inadequately managed it can be a barrier to
adequate weight loss.
Certain types of cancer, i.e. breast, colon, endometrium and
prostate.
Social implications that is often neglected.
If you are underweight
If you are underweight (BMI less than 20), you may develop:
Malnourishment
Compromised immune function
Respiratory disease
Tuberculosis (an infection of the lung)
Digestive (stomach) disease
Cancer
Osteoporosis.
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:: Ideal body weight
For an Ideal body weight, you should keep Body Mass Index between 18.5
and 25.
Ideal Body Weight Calculator
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