What do we mean by the ‘correct’ weight?

In today’s society, there’s a lot of pressure surrounding issues to do with weight. Being the ‘correct’ weight doesn’t always mean we are happy with our size. There are a lot of factors that can affect our weight, like stress, illness, changes in activity levels or diet.  So it’s easy to start gaining or losing weight and not even be aware of it at first. 

Stepping on a scale might not be what causes you to notice changes at first. It’s more likely that you’ll notice a difference in how your clothes fit or how you look. Perhaps somebody else will notice and point it out to you. This can often be the first indicator that your weight is changing. But if you feel too big or too small, how can you tell if it might be affecting your health? 

BMI

Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is a calculation that uses your height and weight to see whether your weight is within a healthy range. Your BMI is calculated by your weight in kg, divided by your height, in metres squared:

BMI is a widely used measurement for measuring healthy weight but there can be other factors that need to be considered when using this. Muscle is much denser than fat, so someone that has a lot of muscle can find themselves classified as overweight or obese, even though they are a healthy weight. See the NHS website for more information on BMI.

Healthy BMI range for high-risk ethnicities (e.g. South Asian, African-Caribbean) is slightly different. The classifications for BMI are as follows:

Waist measurement

Another measure used to assess whether your weight is within a healthy range is your waist measurement. This not only shows whether you are generally overweight but if you are carrying too much weight around your middle which means that you are at risk of developing other health problems, such as heart disease and certain cancers.

To measure your waist, watch the video below or follow these steps:

1. Start at the top of your hip bone, then bring the tape measure all the way around your body, level with your belly button.

2. Make sure it’s not too tight and that it’s straight, even at the back. Don’t hold your breath while measuring.

3. Check the number on the tape measure right after you exhale.

The classifications for target waist circumferences are given below, again it’s important to note that these differ slightly for high-risk ethnicities (e.g. South Asian, African-Caribbean).

However you measure it, it’s important to try to stay a healthy weight to help control your blood glucose and limit the risks of diabetes-related complications and other health issues.