Am I Considered Overweight?

More than 33% of adults in the United States are overweight, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. What does that mean exactly? That means 1 out of every 3 of your adult friends is probably overweight. 

This may have you wondering: Am I considered overweight? And if so, what does that mean for my health?

At Weston Medical Health & Wellness our weight-loss specialist, Dr. Andrea Bretal, is an expert at assessing body composition and how it affects your health. We want to share with you what your weight and weight status means and what you can do about it.

Am I overweight?

Like most health care professionals, we use the body mass index (BMI) to determine your weight status. This is one of the many tools we use to assess your current health and future health risks. 

The BMI is a quick and simple mathematical equation that compares your weight to your height and provides us with clues about your health.

BMI and weight status:

• 18.5 or lower: underweight
• 19-24.9: normal weight
• 25-29.9: overweight
• 30 or greater: obese

You can use an online BMI calculator to see if you’re overweight.

What being overweight means

Having a BMI that places you in the overweight category may set off all your alarm bells. But overweight and obesity aren’t the same thing. It’s important to understand what your numbers really mean. 

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, obesity means you have too much body fat and overweight means you weigh too much. Being overweight doesn’t mean you’re overfat. 

So, while we use the BMI to give us a general sense of where you stand healthwise, the mathematical equation doesn’t take into consideration your body composition. 

Bodybuilders, for example, may have a BMI that places their weight status as overweight. However, most of the extra weight comes from muscle mass, not body fat. Conversely, you can have a normal BMI and a too-high percentage of body fat. 

Weight and health

Yes, BMI determines your weight status, but it doesn’t paint the entire health picture. 

That being said, being overweight increases your risk of developing chronic health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea. 

To determine how your weight truly affects your health, we collect other objective data. This may include blood work to screen for diabetes and measure your blood cholesterol level.

We may also measure your waist size. A waist size greater than 35 inches for women or 40 inches for men may increase your risk of developing the obesity-related diseases previously noted.

A body composition analysis that compares your body fat mass to your fat-free mass may also provide more information about how your weight affects your health. 

We perform a body composition analysis when you start our digital weight-loss program. We use this data to establish a baseline and then track changes as you lose weight. We look more in depth, because health and wellness is more than just one number on the scale. 

Changing your weight status

If you’re overweight and it’s affecting your health, you can change your weight status and improve your health. We specialize in weight loss and customize plans to match your personal preferences, weight goals, and health needs.

In addition to our comprehensive digital weight-loss program, we also offer many innovative therapies to help you get to your desired weight, including phentermine and lipotropic injections.

Though it’s not a weight-loss treatment, our nonsurgical body-contouring tool, called VerjúⓇ, can help you lose unwanted fat and inches.

Your BMI may say you’re overweight, but that may not be a true reflection of your overall health.

If you’re unhappy about your weight and want to do something about it, call our office in Weston, Florida. Or you can request an appointment today right here on the website.