One of the most common topics patients address with their doctors is
weight loss. One-third of Americans today are overweight. Exceeding an ideal
body weight is caused by genetic, socioeconomic, and physiological factors.
However, doctors today see excess weight as an important, treatable medical
condition.
There are several ways of measuring your ideal body weight. One of the most
popular methods to gauge whether or not you are overweight is the body mass
index (BMI). Body mass index BMI is calculated by dividing a person's weight
(in kilograms) by his or her height (in meters, squared). BMI can also be
calculated by multiplying weight (in pounds) by 705, then dividing by height (in
inches) twice. People with BMIs of 25 and above are considered to be overweight.
The chart below shows examples of body mass indexes. The figure at which your
height corresponds with your weight is your body mass index. Having a body mass
index over 30 places you at risk for developing obesity-related medical
conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease. A
BMI over 40 indicates that a person is morbidly obese.
| Weight (lbs) | Height (feet, inches) |
| 5'0" | 5'3" | 5'6" | 5'9" | 6'0 | 6'3" |
| 140 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 18 |
| 150 | 29 | 27 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 19 |
| 160 | 31 | 28 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 20 |
| 170 | 33 | 30 | 28 | 25 | 23 | 21 |
| 180 | 35 | 32 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 23 |
| 190 | 37 | 34 | 31 | 28 | 26 | 24 |
| 200 | 39 | 36 | 32 | 30 | 27 | 25 |
| 210 | 41 | 37 | 34 | 31 | 29 | 26 |
| 220 | 43 | 39 | 36 | 33 | 30 | 28 |
| 230 | 45 | 41 | 37 | 34 | 31 | 29 |
| 240 | 47 | 43 | 39 | 36 | 33 | 30 |
| 250 | 49 | 44 | 40 | 37 | 34 | 31 |
Does being overweight lead to any medical risks?
The best reason to attain and maintain your ideal weight is to reduce or
eliminate medical problems that are more likely to occur with increasing weight.
These conditions include high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, type 2
diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other medical problems. All of
these conditions contribute to an overall increase in mortality (rate of death).
Are treatment plans available to help me lose weight?
There have been many treatment plans — from diets to pills — aimed at
reducing weight. However, being overweight is a chronic condition and therefore
needs a long-term plan aimed at weight reduction.
Your doctor or registered dietician is the ideal person to initiate and
monitor an organized treatment plan for you. This treatment plan should center
on behavior modification. There are also many community organizations and
resources for gathering information on weight loss.
What steps should I take to help me lose weight?
- Decide you want to permanently lose weight.
- Educate yourself.
- Have a realistic goal in mind.
- Formulate a structured treatment plan with your doctor and receive
proper follow-up.
- Understand that obesity is a long-term condition and it will require
life-long attention.