If your body mass index (BMI) is elevated and your waist is more than 35 inches (measured just over your hip bones) it's probably time to drop the pounds. Your BMI is a measure of your body fat based on height and weight and you can use it as a gauge to know if you are overweight.
Body-weight loss is usually noticed around the belly, waistline, and thighs first. This is because your body stores fat in different locations. For instance, men hold more fat around their belly, while women store it on their thighs and hips. Weight loss gradually starts with a reduction in belly size.
A: The short answer is yes — it's possible for you to be both fit and overweight, even obese. What's really important to understand is what “fit” means and what “overweight” means relative to your health.
Obesity affects children as well as adults. Many factors can contribute to excess weight gain including eating patterns, physical activity levels, and sleep routines.
It is believed that one's metabolism is at its peak during the teenage years when one can eat anything they want without the fear of gaining kilos. By the time they reach midlife around the 30s and 40s, it starts to decline, and it becomes difficult to keep the weight off.
Conversely, losing weight in your 30s and 40s is more difficult than when you're a young adult. (Men and women tend to put on little or no weight after age 40 and lose weight in their 70s, according to HHS.)
As we reach our 30's, our bodies usually need less energy, meaning we may not be able to eat the way we did in our 20's. Then, as you move past 40 and head to middle age, changes in muscle, hormones and metabolism all make it harder to stay trim.
People with heart failure, kidney disease, liver disease, or those taking certain medications may experience this type of weight gain. You should always report rapid or significant weight gain and fluid retention to your doctor, even if no other symptoms are present.
Weight gain and fluctuations in weight can happen for a variety of reasons. Many people progressively gain weight as they age or make changes to their lifestyle. However, fast weight gain can be a sign of an underlying health condition, such as a problem with the thyroid, kidneys, or heart.
Muscle is denser than fat, and as it is more compact within your body, as you gain muscle mass, you end up looking thinner, no matter your physical weight. So, if you've been doing a lot of strength training lately, it's likely this is the reason that you're looking fantastic but not dropping those numbers.
Fat, fit people tend to be better off healthwise than thin people who are unfit, Gaesser said, suggesting that being fit is far more important than being thin.
The BMI calculates height and weight to come up with a score that is indicative of a class of health risk. A score of 18.5 to 25 is typically considered a healthy BMI. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, while a BMI of 30 or greater is considered obese. An overweight status begins to constitute a health risk.
A BMI of less than 18.5 means a person is underweight. A BMI of between 18.5 and 24.9 is ideal. A BMI of between 25 and 29.9 is overweight. A BMI over 30 indicates obesity.
There are many reasons you can gain weight that have nothing to do with food. Sometimes weight gain is easy to figure out. If you've changed your eating habits, added more dessert or processed foods, or have been spending more time on the couch than usual, you can typically blame those reasons if you gain a few pounds.