If you’ve been thinking about your current weight, it may be because you’ve noticed a change in how your clothes fit. Or maybe you’ve been told by a healthcare professional that you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol and that excessive weight could be a contributing factor. The first step is to assess whether or not your current weight is healthy.
How Can I Tell Whether I’m at a Healthy Weight?
Body Mass Index: One way to begin to determine whether you are at a healthy weight is to calculate your “body mass index” or BMI. BMI is a reliable indicator of your healthy weight range, unless you are an athlete carrying a large amount of muscle. It is calculated based on your height and weight. To find your BMI, visit FMCBariatrics.com. What does your BMI number mean?
- BMI less than 18.5 is considered underweight.
- BMI from 18.5 to 25 is considered in the normal range.
- BMI from 25 to 30 is considered overweight.
- Obesity is considered a BMI of 30-35.
- Severe obesity is considered a BMI of 35-40.
- Morbid obesity is considered a BMI of 40 or greater.
Underweight, normal, overweight and obese are terms used for ranges of weight. Obese and overweight describe ranges of weight greater than what is considered healthy for a given height. Underweight describes a weight lower than what is considered healthy. If your BMI falls outside of the normal or healthy weight range, you may want to talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about how you might achieve a healthier body weight.
Waist Circumference: Another way to assess your weight is to measure your waist size. Your waistline may be telling you that you have a higher risk of developing obesity-related conditions if you are:
- A man whose waist circumference is more than 40 inches.
- A non-pregnant woman whose waist circumference is more than 35 inches.
Excessive abdominal fat is serious because it places you at greater risk for developing obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. Individuals who have excessive abdominal fat should consult with their physicians or other health care providers to develop a plan for losing weight.
Body-fat measurement: Body composition, the measure of fat mass to lean tissue (including bone, muscle, ligaments, tendons and organs), is an important metric when determining a healthy weight. Body fat can be measured using calipers or a body-fat scale. Your ideal body-fat percentage depends on your age, sex and fitness level.
When Diet and Exercise are Not Enough
For those who are morbidly obese, research shows conventional diets – including weight-loss medications – result in less than a 10 percent reduction in body weight, with less than a one percent chance of keeping the weight off long term. For someone weighing 300 pounds, this means losing 30 pounds. However, roughly only one out of 100 people is able to maintain that 30-pound weight loss. In these cases, weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery) typically is the most effective treatment. Recent scientific research suggests this may be equally true for severely obese individuals as well. Further studies show weight loss surgery in qualified individuals may improve or cure certain diseases such as type 2 diabetes.
Is Weight Loss Surgery the Right Option?
Weight loss surgery is major surgery, not to be taken lightly. It is not a “magic bullet,” but a tool to use alongside dietary and lifestyle modifications. Flagstaff Medical Center’s Bariatric Surgical Weight Loss Center helps patients prepare well in advance of their surgery. The team at FMC guides patients to make behavioral changes before and after surgery, including exercise, eating habits and fluid and vitamin intake. Surgery also is not a guarantee. The success of each patient’s surgery always depends on the patient’s commitment to a lifelong change in eating and exercise behaviors.
If you are considering weight loss surgery, FMC’s Bariatric Surgical Weight Loss Center invites you to attend a free information session prior to making an appointment with our surgical staff. Information sessions are held the second Tuesday of each month from 6 to 7 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 1175 W. Route 66, Flagstaff, Az., 86001. These sessions include a presentation by our surgical staff regarding the causes and health complications of obesity, as well as the types of surgeries available. To register, call 928-214-3737. To learn more about FMC’s Bariatric Surgical Weight Loss Center, visit FMCBariatrics.com. QCBN
By Gigi Sorenson R.N., M.S.N.
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