HOW ARE EXCESS WEIGHT AND OBESITY DIAGNOSED?

Being overweight or obese refers to increased body weight in relation to height when compared to the medical community's standard of healthy weight for a person's size. Weight gain usually stems from an increase in body fat.

BMI

Body Mass Index (BMI) is the standard measure of the relationship, or ratio, of weight-to-height. It is a formula in which body weight in kilograms is divided by the square of a person's height in meters.

To determine your BMI using pounds and inches, multiply your weight in pounds by 704.5, then divide the result by your height in inches, and divide that result by your height in inches a second time. The multiplier 704.5 is used by the National Institutes of Health. Other organizations may use a slightly different multiplier; for example, the American Dietetic Association suggests multiplying by 700. The variation in outcome - a few tenths - is insignificant. Alternatively, use the tables below.

BODY MASS INDEX TABLES

To use these tables, find the appropriate height in the left-hand column. Move across to a given weight in pounds. The number at the top of the column is the BMI at that height and weight. Pounds have been rounded off. The second table continues where the first leaves off and calculations are made in the same way.

BMI	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36
Height (inches)	Body Weight (pounds)
58	91	96	100	105	110	115	119	124	129	134	138	143	148	153	158	162	167	172
59	94	99	104	109	114	119	124	128	133	138	143	148	153	158	163	168	173	178
60	97	102	107	112	118	123	128	133	138	143	148	153	158	163	168	174	179	184
61	100	106	111	116	122	127	132	137	143	148	153	158	164	169	174	180	185	190
62	104	109	115	120	126	131	136	142	147	153	158	164	169	175	180	186	191	196
63	107	113	118	124	130	135	141	146	152	158	163	169	175	180	186	191	197	203
64	110	116	122	128	134	140	145	151	157	163	169	174	180	186	192	197	204	209
65	114	120	126	132	138	144	150	156	162	168	174	180	186	192	198	204	210	216
66	118	124	130	136	142	148	155	161	167	173	179	186	192	198	204	210	216	223
67	121	127	134	140	146	153	159	166	172	178	185	191	198	204	211	217	223	230
68	125	131	138	144	151	158	164	171	177	184	190	197	203	210	216	223	230	236
69	128	135	142	149	155	162	169	176	182	189	196	203	209	216	223	230	236	243
70	132	139	146	153	160	167	174	181	188	195	202	209	216	222	229	236	243	250
71	136	143	150	157	165	172	179	186	193	200	208	215	222	229	236	243	250	257
72	140	147	154	162	169	177	184	191	199	206	213	221	228	235	242	250	258	265
73	144	151	159	166	174	182	189	197	204	212	219	227	235	242	250	257	265	272
74	148	155	163	171	179	186	194	202	210	218	225	233	241	249	256	264	272	280
75	152	160	168	176	184	192	200	208	216	224	232	240	248	256	264	272	279	287
76	156	164	172	180	189	197	205	213	221	230	238	246	254	263	271	279	287	295

BMI	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50	51	52	53	54
Height (inches)	Body Weight (pounds)
58	177	181	186	191	196	201	205	210	215	220	224	229	234	239	244	248	253	258
59	183	188	193	198	203	208	212	217	222	227	232	237	242	247	252	257	262	267
60	189	194	199	204	209	215	220	225	230	235	240	245	250	255	261	266	271	276
61	195	201	206	211	217	222	227	232	238	243	248	254	259	264	269	275	280	285
62	202	207	213	218	224	229	235	240	246	251	256	262	267	273	278	284	289	295
63	208	214	220	225	231	237	242	248	254	259	265	270	278	282	287	293	299	304
64	215	221	227	232	238	244	250	256	262	267	273	279	285	291	296	302	308	314
65	222	228	234	240	246	252	258	264	270	276	282	288	294	300	306	312	318	324
66	229	235	241	247	253	260	266	272	278	284	291	297	303	309	315	322	328	334
67	236	242	249	255	261	268	274	280	287	293	299	306	312	319	325	331	338	344
68	243	249	256	262	269	276	282	289	295	302	308	315	322	328	335	341	348	354
69	250	257	263	270	277	284	291	297	304	311	318	324	331	338	345	351	358	365
70	257	264	271	278	285	292	299	306	313	320	327	334	341	348	355	362	369	376
71	265	272	279	286	293	301	308	315	322	329	338	343	351	358	365	372	379	386
72	272	279	287	294	302	309	316	324	331	338	346	353	361	368	375	383	390	397
73	280	288	295	302	310	318	325	333	340	348	355	363	371	378	386	393	401	408
74	287	295	303	311	319	326	334	342	350	358	365	373	381	389	396	404	412	420
75	295	303	311	319	327	335	343	351	359	367	375	383	391	399	407	415	423	431
76	304	312	320	328	336	344	353	361	369	377	385	394	402	410	418	426	435	443

Obesity in children is measured differently. New pediatric growth charts are used to plot BMI-for-age, which compares a child's weight with that of other children of the same gender and age.

Adult individuals with a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 are regarded as normal. Any figure under 18.5 is underweight. A BMI of between 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, while persons with a BMI of 30 or more are regarded as obese.

Excess weight gain and obesity can be caused by a variety of reasons:

Poor diet and lack of exercise
Eating more calories than are utilized for energy
Insulin Resistance - an imbalance of glucose and insulin levels in the blood stream. Research shows that controlling Insulin Resistance is a key factor in effective weight loss.
Hypothyroidism or slow metabolism
Chronic stress which leads to overactive adrenal glands
Adverse food reactions or intolerances which promote weight retention
Deficiencies in nutrients which are necessary for proper metabolism
Genetic factors
An increase in fat cells and adipose tissue mass (connective tissue in which fat is stored) during infancy and childhood--and for some severely obese persons, even during adulthood--which predisposes certain people to obesity
Medications. Weight gain can be produced by many medications, especially steroid hormones, some antidepressants, some tranquilizers and some antipsychotic drugs

As well as the BMI measurement, excess weight gain and obesity can be diagnosed in the following ways.

A check of personal and family history of symptoms
Physical exam by a doctor
Laboratory studies, which may vary depending on your symptoms:

Fasting glucose
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid hormone levels
Fasting lipid profile, including LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels
DHEA-S level
Cortisol levels
Food allergy testing
Prolactin level
Testosterone level
Tests to assess risk of Cardiovascular Disease from such factors as homocysteine, lipoprotein and Cardio CRP

Click here to read about the
Health Consequences of Excess Weight and Obesity

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