Overweight
Health risks associated with being overweight
Being overweight and obesity can increase the risk of various health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.
If you are pregnant, being overweight can cause both short-term and long-term health problems for you and your child.
Health problems associated with being overweight and obesity
Being overweight can increase the risk of various health problems, including:
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure
Heart disease and stroke
Some types of cancer
Sleep apnea
Osteoarthritis
Fatty liver disease
Kidney disease; Osteoarthritis
Pregnancy-related issues, such as high blood sugar during pregnancy, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of delivery by cesarean section (C-section)
Body Mass Index (BMI)
BMI, or body mass index (BMI) is a useful measure for assessing overweight and obesity. BMI is calculated based on height and weight.
BMI is an estimate of body fat and a good measure for assessing the risk of diseases that can result from having more body fat.
The higher the BMI, the higher the risk.
How to calculate body mass index using the BMI formula, as shown in the yellow box on the source page:
BODY MASS INDEX FORMULA
BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height (m)²
18.5 to 24 : normal weight
25 to 29.9 : overweight
30 or more : obesity
Waist Circumference
Measuring your waist circumference helps screen for potential health risks associated with being overweight and obesity. If most of your body fat is around your waist rather than around your hips, you have a higher risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Having too much fat around the waist can pose an even greater health risk than having fat in other parts of the body.
Women with a waist measurement of more than 35 inches and men with a waist size of more than 40 inches may be at a higher risk of developing obesity-related diseases.