If the answer is yes, then you may have been
misled...
The standard obesity chart, also known as a body
mass index chart,
compares your height against your weight to determine if you are obese.
The problem is this...Consider an athlete who is 6'2 and weighs 245
pounds, most of which is muscle. According
to the bmi chart this person is obese. Take one look at them
and you will quickly see that they are anything
but fat!
The bmi chart has been used for many years, but has never been an
accurate portrayal of whether or not you are overweight.
A more accurate measure is to determine your body fat percentage. Body
fat percentage is a measure of stored body fat. Your body does need
stored fat to function properly. This fat is referred to as essential
fat. However, the vast majority of us carry far too much body fat. The
more stored body fat you have, typically the more overweight you are.
Once body fat percentage is known it is compared against the
chart
below...
Description
Men
Women
Essential Fat
2-5%
12-15%
Acceptable
18-25%
25-31%
Obese
25+%
32+%
You should have your
body fat percentage measured by a professional.
There are many ways of doing it, the most common of which is the simple
pinch test.
A more accurate measure and what is
generally recognized
as the "gold standard" of body fat
testing is called hydrostatic testing (underwater weighing).
Knowing your body fat percentage instead of just a number off of a
standard obesity chart, will allow you to track just how much body fat
you are losing along
the way to your weight loss goal.
