11-14-06. Are you obsessed with how your body looks! Throughout the month of November we will show you the risks of weight issues and the scary truth about those who are putting their bodies at risk for health concerns.
We've all struggled with weight. Either we think we are too fat or we are trying to add on a couple of pounds. But when does adding those extra pounds become dangerous?
Michelle Carr M.D with Texomacare-Family Medicine says, “The obesity rate for teenagers or teenage girls is about 16% and in some ethnic groups it can be up to 23%."
But it's not just teen's facing the problem. According to the American Obesity Association, obesity is the second leading cause of unnecessary deaths in the U.S.
It can cause chronic diseases such as: diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, even osteoarthritis.
But theirs also the mental pain, those who are overweight are often discriminated against.
So how do we know when we are overweight?!
Dr. Carr says, “To kind of know what the normal range is for you, you kind of need a scale. You need the body mass index . But you know then you can see where you are, because a lot of people that are obese don't know that their obese. And a lot of people that are overweight, don't think their overweight. I think that's part of the problem.
So what is the BMI test? The body mass index test is a measure of body fat based on height and weight, that applies to both adult men and women.
First take your weight in pounds and then divide it by your height in inches squared. Take that number and multiply it by 704.5. If you your BMI number is >30, you are considered obese. If your BMI number is 25-29.9, you are considered overweight and should consider seeing a doctor about your health risk.