Weight and height for women and men

Weight - relative value. For one person, 60 kilograms can be the first stage of obesity, and for another, a sign of severe malnutrition. It is for this purpose that specialists on the basis of a number of studies have developed a body mass index (BMI) or a weight and growth factor. This coefficient allows you to determine, without the help of a specialist, independently, at home, how much your weight corresponds to the norm.

Definition

The body mass index is the ratio of weight to height. It is used to determine whether a person is healthy for his body weight or is at risk of underweight or overweight.

The deviation of the body mass index from the norm at times increases the risk of the emergence of a wide variety of diseases, in particular diseases of the joints and the cardiovascular system.

BMI values are the same for both sexes. The health risks associated with increasing body weight are characterized by continuous action. However, depending on the population, the weight and growth factors are still interpreted with some changes.

Why is it important to maintain a healthy weight?

If you do not have diseases that lead to excess weight, then regular physical activity and proper nutrition will help you easily adhere to the norm. And it is necessary first of all not because of the appearance, but because of a number of health benefits:

• Absence of pain in muscles and joints;
• More energy and a desire to participate in various activities;
• Improvement of blood circulation, stabilization of blood pressure;
• Healthy, strong sleep;
• Reduction of triglycerides and glucose in the blood;
• Reducing the risk of heart disease and several types of cancer.

Excess weight gives a big load on the heart, raises blood pressure, cholesterol level in the blood.

What are the effects of obesity?

People who are obese are at risk. Overweight can cause the following diseases and conditions:

• High mortality.
• Hypertension.
• Increased level of low-density lipoproteins ("bad" cholesterol) and decreased - high-density lipoproteins ("good" cholesterol).
• Type 2 diabetes.
• Cardiac ischemia.
• Strokes.
• Diseases of the gallbladder.
• Osteoarthritis (destruction of cartilage in the joints).
• Sleep disturbances.
• Problems with breathing.
• Chronic inflammatory processes.
• Some cancers (breast, colon, kidney, gallbladder and liver cancer).
• Low level of quality of life.
• Mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, etc.
• Chronic pain and difficulty in movement.

Over the past few years, obesity has caused many suicides.

Is body weight deficiency dangerous?

The frequent misconception that to be thin is good. As well as a high weight and height ratio, lack of weight is a deviation from the norm and can lead to a number of serious diseases:

• infertility;
• Amenorrhea in women;
• Autoimmune diseases;
• Type 1 diabetes;
• Hyperthyroidism (thyroid disease);
• Mental problems, depression, anxiety, anorexia nervosa;
• Problems with digestion.

In the case of underweight, it is also necessary to seek the help of specialists to identify the cause of the deviation and develop the right diet and exercise system.

What is BMI used for?

Only the body mass index can not be a sufficient tool for a full diagnosis. For example, weight and height factors for men engaged in weightlifting, very often does not correspond to the statistical norm. This is due to the fact that the values are defined for the "ordinary" person, with a small number of muscles. In the case of people with significant muscle mass, the results can be erroneous.

That's why to identify potential problems with weight, a specialist also needs to do the following:

• To measure the thickness of the skin fold to determine the percentage of fat mass;
• To analyze the diet and physical activity;
• Learn about the problems with the weight among the next of kin;
• Perform additional tests as needed.

A high body mass index does not always indicate obesity, but in order to determine if such weight is hazardous to health, it is important to consult with specialists.

How to calculate the weight and growth factors yourself?

A Belgian scientist, one of the founders of statistics, Adolf Ketle, about 150 years ago, developed a formula for determining BMI.

Of course, for 150 years there have been many changes. Not only the complexion of man has changed, but also the way of life. This influence did not have any influence on the formula itself, however, modern scientists corrected the data, according to which the weight and growth coefficient can be determined today.

The formula for calculating the body mass index is quite simple: you need to divide the weight in kilograms by the height (in meters) in the square.

For example, a girl who is 160 cm tall and weighs 55 kg. BMI for her will look like this 55 / 1.6 ² = 21.5

It is enough to verify the obtained value with the table below, and you already know whether your weight is within the norm.

The coefficient of weight and height for women and men is the same and is equal to:

If we return to the example, then, according to the table, our body mass index is within the norm. No health hazards related directly to weight, no.

How well does BMI characterize the percentage of body fat?

The relationship between BMI and body fat is strong enough. However, even among people whose weight and height ratio is the most similar (up to one-hundredths of a thousandth), the percentage of fat mass may vary significantly.

With the same body mass index:

• In women, as a rule, the percentage of body fat is higher than that of men;
• Depending on the race, in the white the fatty layer is larger than that of the blacks, and less than in the Asians;
• Athletes fatty deposits less than people with minimal physical activity.

A high coefficient of weight and height does not always indicate excessive obesity. A BMI above the norm can equally indicate a high level in the body of both fat and muscle mass.