OBESITY - CLASSIFICATION

THE BODY MASS INDEX

The Body Mass Index, or BMI, is the recommended index to define overweight and obesity, as it is highly correlated with body fat percentage. It is derived by the simple formula:

BMI = Weight (in kg) divided by Height2 (in m2)

The current WHO guidelines for adults uses a BMI cut-off of 25 to define overweight and 30 to define obesity. Based on body fat equivalence and risk of associated diseases, the cut-off for Asians is 23 and 27.5 respectively.

WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE

Visceral fat, or intra-abdominal fat, is strongly associated with cardiovascular risks. However, it can be measured only by CT and MRI scans. The most practical way for assessing this intra-abdominal fat, is to measure waist circumference, an approximate index of intra-abdominal fat.
You would be considered High Risk if: