Weight Loss

Obesity in America is caused by two main factors: eating too much (usually of unhealthy or the wrong foods) and exercising too little.

Americans eat too much Saturated Fat and too many "Simple" Carbohydrates. This is due to the popularity of fast food and large restaurant portions.

Visit our page on Carbs

Americans also exercise too little. Despite the known benefits of regular physical activity, most Americans are not active enough. You don't need to overdo it!

Measure your Body Mass Index (BMI)

One way to determine if you are overweight or too fat is to measure BMI.

BMI is a measure of weight relative to height. It is a good general indicator of body fat, but it is not always accurate. In some cases, people with a high BMI may have a lot of muscle mass, while people with a low BMI may have a lot of body fat.

Healthcare providers use BMI along with other tools and tests to assess a person's health status and risks. These other tools and tests may include:

• Measuring waist circumference

• Skinfold calipers

• Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)

• Hydrostatic weighing

• DEXA scan

BMI is not a diagnosis.

It is simply a tool that can be used to help assess a person's risk for certain health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer.

To calculate BMI:

divide weight in pounds by height in inches squared and multiply by a conversion factor of 703 

You can use the BMI Calculator on this link

BMI Categories:

• Underweight = <18.5

• Normal weight = 18.5–24.9

• Overweight = 25–29.9

• Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater