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Body Mass Index (BMI)
BMI is a reliable indicator of total body fat, which is related to the risk of disease and death. The score is valid for both men and women but it does have some limits.
The limits are:
- It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
- It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle mass.
Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) on the CDC website.
Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR)
WHR is another indicator of overall fat distribution. First, measure your waist circumference (WC), measure the distance around the smallest area below the rib cage and above the belly button. Next measure your hip circumference (HC), measure the distance around the largest extension of your buttocks. Divide your WC by your HC. In general, men with a WHR greater than 1.0 and women with a ratio greater than 0.8 are considered to have an excess accumulation of fat in their abdomens.
The good news is that you can lower your health risks by losing as little as 10 to 20 pounds! For additional information and resources visit the Weight-control Information Network website.
The CDC website offers weight management tips on the How to Use Fruits and Vegetables to Help Manage Your Weight and How to Lose and Manage Weight webpages.
Fad Diets
How much do you know about weight loss and fad diets? Visit the Weight-control Information Network's Weight-loss and Nutrition Myths webpage to find out.
Learn about the pros and cons of the latest fad diet trends by downloading The Latest Diet Trends: Recognizing the Dangers power point presentation created by HealthUtah.org.
Gastrointestinal Surgery
Is weight loss surgery for you?
Candidates must have:
- BMI of 40 or more
- Life threatening obesity-related health problem
- Proof that their attempts to lose weight through diet and exercise have been ineffective.
Keep in mind that surgery to produce weight loss is a serious undertaking. The more extensive the surgery, the greater the risk for complications and nutritional deficiencies. Understand the pros and cons associated with the procedure before making any decisions. Visit the Weight-control Information Network's Gastrointestinal Surgery for Severe Obesity webpage to learn about the benefits and the risks of gastrointestinal surgery.
Gastric bypass surgery is not a “quick fix” for obesity. A successful and safe surgery requires you to have a strong commitment to eating right and exercising before and after the surgery. You must adhere to these lifestyle changes. Otherwise, serious complications from the surgery are likely to develop.
For more information on gastric bypass surgery, check out these websites:
Related Links
Visit our Related Links webpage for additional nutrition information.
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