Obesity Quiz: Are You Obese?

By Kat Fuschillo
Writer for FEP International

It seems as though everyone is talking about obesity these days. The health risks, the cause and the treatments. But, many Americans still know little about the condition and how dangerous it really is. There is a fine line between being overweight and obese, but many people have no idea that they fall into the category of obesity. If you're overweight, it's important to find out if your are considered to be clinically obese. Those with obesity are far more likely to encounter serious health conditions, so it's important to find out now, and do something about it. Take our obesity quiz to find out if you might have the condition, and what you can do to lose weight.

1) Obesity BMI test

The quickest and easiest way to find out if you're obese is to measure your BMI (Body Mass Index). Before you use the chart make sure you accurately measure your height and your current weight, as you will need both of these measurements. An online BMI Calculator is found here. There are 5 BMI groups that you can fall into -

Underweight - BMI is less than 18.5
Ideal weight - BMI 18.5 - 25
Overweight - BMI 25 - 30
Obese - BMI 30 - 40
Very obese – BMI is greater than 40

You'll find that BMI charts for men, women and children will vary, so it's important to measure your BMI accurately with the right kind of chart. If you are in any doubt about your current BMI, please see your doctor or a medical professional [1].

2) Obesity Waist to Hip Ratio

It has recently been discovered that the obesity waist-hip ratio test gives a much more accurate BMI, and may be able to predict if the patient is obese and likely to suffer from a heart attack. This test is easy to do... simply measure your waist around your navel at the smallest point. You'll then need to measure you hips at their widest point, which is normally around the buttocks. To work out your result – Divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement. This calculation will give you your W/H ratio.

Men – your ratio should be below 1.0
Women – you ratio should be below 0.8

If your waist-hip ratio is above either of these figures, you are far more likely to encounter obesity related conditions in the future. If you fall into this dangerous obese category, you need to start losing weight immediately [2].

3) Common Obesity symptoms

Here are some of the more common obesity symptoms you should try to look out for:
- Your weight has increased.
- You have painful joints and back problems.
- You clothes have now become too small for you.
- You're often breathless.
- You have trouble sleeping and have begun to snore heavily.

What to do if you think you're Obese

You need to change your current eating habits and eat a more balanced healthy diet. You will also need to reduce your daily food intake and start to exercise regularly. These three combined lifestyle changes will help you lose weight and reduce your risk of illness.

References

1. Healthy Weight Calculator.
http://www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Healthyweightcalculator.aspx?r=1&rtitle=Interactive+tools+-+BMI+tool. Accessed Aug 18, 2009.

2. Body mass index.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/whatis_bmi.shtml. Accessed Aug 18, 2009.

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