Am I really overweight?

In a time where skinny models reflect an ideal image in our magazines, many people feel overweight. But not everyone is overweight! It’s important to make a distinction between being overweight and having an aesthetically beautiful body.

The BMI or Body Mass Index (also called the Quetelet index) is a measurement that can be used to evaluate the ratio between weight and health. The BMI can be used to determine whether someone is obese, or whether there is evidence of overweight or underweight and the seriousness of it.

However, the BMI may not be used as the only measurement for the composition of the body or the physical condition.

Although the BMI has recognition points that are indicative of healthy weight levels for adults (aged 20 to 74), it cannot be used for infants, children, pregnant women or nursing women, people who are seriously ill, athletes and adults older than 74.

If we deviate from a normal body weight, it means that we run a number of risks to our health.

Underweight:
Reduction in resistance, fatigue, low blood pressure, reduced muscle power, etc.

Overweight:
High blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes melitus, cancer, painful joints, psychosocial problems, etc.