You've probably already wondered how much you should weigh. The answer is not always as simple as looking at a graph. Your ideal weight depends on many factors, including: height, gender, fat and muscle composition and other factors.
Know your body mass index
Body Mass Index (BMI)is one of the most popular ways to calculate an ideal weight range. Getting yourcurrent BMI is as simple as plugging your height and weight into a calculator.
A score between 18.5 and 24.9 means you are in the "normal" weight range for your height. If your result is less than 18.5, you are considered underweight. Between 25 and 29.9 means you are considered overweight. And if your number is between 30 and 35 or more, you are considered obese.
However, BMI is not always accurate because it does not take into account factors such as frame size and muscle composition. Read on to learn more about BMI and other ways to determine an ideal weight.
Weight and health
The topic of body weight ideal remains a hot topic, as it affects both human health and treatment. In addition to the increased risk oftype 2 diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and osteoarthritis, being overweight also increases the risk of developing several cancers.
For many treatments, a doctor needs to know your weight to calculate the appropriate dosage. In addition, more and more people have become aware of their health and fitness. They want to know about their bodies, the effectiveness of physical training and their efforts to stay healthy.
The origin of the ideal weight
Paul Broca (French army physician) was the first to focus onideal body weight (IBW), which was to establish IBW for soldiers. He discovered and published the so-called Broca Index, according to which it had been applied for about a century. In his index, Broca used only the height in centimeters, then subtracted 100 to get the normal weight. Then, 10% of the normal weight was subtracted to obtain the BWI.
The following formulas have been constructed
But the Broca Index failed in some important respects for IBW. For example, current weight, age and environment are not taken into account.
However, most of the following formulas repackaged Broca's index with only a few additions.
Today, the most reliable method for obtaining ideal weight, whether in clinical, educational, or field settings, is thebody mass index.
BMI = Weight (in kg) /Height² (in meters)
This is a calculation that divides people into four categories:
- Underweight people, with a score below 18.5 ;
- Normal weight, with a score between 18.5 and 24.9 ;
- Overweight, with a score of 25 to 29.9 ;
- Obese, with a score of 30 or more.
Other complementary measures are still needed
Basing this calculation solely on height and weight, however, does not take into account a person's bone, muscle, or fat proportions. For example, a person with exceptional muscle tone and low fat (such as an athlete, bodybuilder, etc.) is more likely to have higher BMI than someone with higher fat tone and lower muscle tone. This happens because muscle is four times denser than fatty tissue.
The use of complementary modes of measurement may provide a more accurate and complete indication of health risk.
Tape measure
To be considered healthy,the waist circumference should be less than half of your waist. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excess abdominal fat can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and coronary heart disease. To measure, stand up straight and place the tape measure around your midsection, just above your hip bones, along your belly button. Relax, don't suck in your gut and don't squeeze the tape tightly around your waist.
Bioelectric impedance scale
This scale is equipped with electrodes under each foot. They emit tiny electrical impulses throughout the body and measure the rapidity with which these impulses return to the device. The lean tissue conducts electrical pulses faster than adipose tissue. This allows the device to measure fat composition bythe speed of pulse return. The faster the response time, the leaner the physique.
What other methods are there to determine a healthy weight?
There are several other methods you can use to determine how much you should weigh.
Waist to hip ratio
The ratio of your waist to hip circumference creates what is called your waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). This number indicates the amount of fat stored in your lower body. This includes your waist, hips and buttocks.
Your doctor can help you determine your HTR. If you want to do it yourself at home, follow these instructions:
- Stand still and breathe normally. Then exhale and use a tape to measure the inches around your natural waist, which is the smallest part above your belly button. This number is your waistline.
- Next, take your tape and measure around most of your hips and buttocks. This number is your hip size.
- Divide your waist circumference by your hip circumference to get your WHR.
A healthy ratio for women is 0.85 or less. For men, it is 0.9 or less. A ratio greater than 1 may indicate an increased risk of heart disease and related conditions in men and women.
What is the ideal weight for men and women?
You may have noticed thatideal body weight percentages differ between men and women. That's because women generally have more body fat than men.
Fat is also distributed differently on the body, as women tend to store more in the hips, thighs and buttocks. For women, it is generally considered healthy to have between 21 and 24% body fat. Between 14 and 17% of men generally represent the healthy range.
Scientists are not sure why women store more fat than men. Some think it is a mixture of hormones, hormone receptors, and different concentrations of enzymes.
Sources:
http://www.doctissimo.fr/asp/quizz/visu_form_imc.asp
https://www.topsante.com/outils/poids-ideal