| Are You Overweight or Are You Obese?
If there was one thing being overweight and being obese had in common, it were that they were both way above what is considered acceptable and normal in terms of weight for a particular age range, height, and gender. However, there is a world of difference between these two labels for weight ranges.
Here’s statistics to wake you up: One in three Americans is obese, according to Health and Nutrition Examination survey. By definition, obesity is having 20% more body fat than what is ideal. Overweight, on the other hand can be defined as excessive body weight compared to what is considered acceptable for one’s height, age and gender.
To reiterate, obesity is weighing greater than 20% of the ideal weight of men and women. It is having body fat that is greater than 25% in men, and 30% in women.
Determining whether one is overweight or obese can be done by considering one’s BMI, or basal metabolic index and one’s body shape. BMI can be computed by dividing one’s weight in kilos by the height in meters squared. If one’s BMI is anywhere between 24 and 27 kg/m2, he or she is considered overweight, whereas BMI of over 27 kg/m2 is considered obese.
One’s body shape can also tell whether he or she is overweight or obese. Women, by nature tend to be pear-shaped, because fat deposits naturally in their hips, thighs and buttocks. Apple-shape type is more related to obesity as it indicates that there is a higher amount of visceral fat around the midsection.
|
