How can one assess if they have excessive weight or suffer from obesity?
Olivia Davis
2026-03-19
4 min. read
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Technological advancement, access to an increasing number of food items (not always of high quality), a rapidly changing lifestyle, and lack of basic information on healthy dieting have led to overweight and obesity becoming a common problem of the 21st century. They are also referred to as civilization diseases. More and more people are grappling with these problems. Often, people lack the knowledge of how to determine if the problem applies to them or are unaware of the potential dangers associated with an excess of fatty tissue.
Body mass index (BMI)
The most popular method of checking if body weight is correct is by calculating a body mass index (BMI). This value can be calculated using the following formula: BMI = body weight (in kg) ÷ [height (in meters)]². If the result of the calculation is less than 18.5, it indicates underweight. Values between 18.5 and 24.9 indicate a normal body weight. Overweight begins at values between 25 and 29.9. Obesity starts at a BMI of 30 or higher. Obesity of the first degree is between 30 and 34.9, obesity of the second degree between 35 and 39.9, and morbid obesity is present at a BMI of 40 or higher. However, it should be noted that BMI is a general indicator and does not take into account many factors such as individual differences in body composition, muscle mass, and fat tissue. Therefore, BMI is not an accurate indicator for all individuals.
The waist circumference index
Instead of using the BMI, the waist circumference (WC) and especially the WHtR, which is the ratio of waist to height, can be checked. When measuring the WHtR, it can be determined whether there is too much visceral fat in the waist, which is much more dangerous to the body than the subcutaneous fat located elsewhere in the body. This measurement allows you to determine whether you have abdominal obesity, which is responsible for the development of serious metabolic disorders such as hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, or type 2 diabetes. If the measurement result exceeds the set norm, it indicates an excessive accumulation of visceral fat in the abdominal cavity and it is necessary to reduce the waist circumference. This way, you can minimize the risk of diseases associated with abdominal obesity. The norms for the waist circumference for women, as mentioned earlier, are as follows: from 80 cm, there is a significant risk of metabolic complications, and from 88 cm, the risk is already very high. For men, however, the significant risk of these complications begins with a waist circumference of over 94 cm, and the very high risk with over 102 cm. The measurement of the waist circumference should be carried out in the middle between the lower rib edge and the upper pelvic rim. The WHtR index for abdominal obesity is similar for both sexes and is 0.5, i.e., the waist circumference should not exceed half the body height (Ht/2).
A metabolic syndrome
A waist measurement indicative of abdominal fat may be associated with a risk of metabolic syndrome. The presence of this syndrome may also lead to complications within the cardiovascular system. To exclude the risk of this syndrome occurring, diagnostic examinations should be conducted to investigate other characteristics of the metabolic syndrome. If the results show the existence of three of the mentioned abnormalities, this means that treatment must be initiated. The criteria for diagnosing metabolic syndrome according to NCEP-ATP III from 2001 are as follows:
For women
– waist circumference greater than 88 cm, – triglyceride levels of 150 mg/dl or higher, – HDL cholesterol levels below 50 mg/dl, – blood pressure of 130/85 mmHg or above, – fasting glucose levels of 110 mg/dl or more, after modification – 100 mg/dl (NCEP-ATP III criteria of 2005);
Catering to men's needs
– waist circumference of more than 102 cm, – triglyceride levels of greater than or equal to 150 mg/dl, – HDL cholesterol levels of less than 40 mg/dl, – blood pressure of higher or equal to 130/85 mmHg, – fasting blood glucose level of higher or equal to 110 mg/dl. Maintaining a lean physique is key, as this not only ensures an appealing appearance, but also a good sense of well-being – without the worry of diseases and health complications.
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