Weight is a nation obsession. On the one hand we are in the grip of an obesity epidemic and experts are warning us against getting fat.
Indeed a naturally slim girl who is blessed with a metabolism that stops her getting fat can be healthy and a size zero - UK size 4.
But others starve themselves to reach a goal weight when instead they would be far better off carrying a few excess pounds.
Weight is not a reliable indicator.
Doctors use a measurement called body mass index or BMI - a calculation of kilograms/centimetres squared - to judge a person's size against weight.
As a rule of thumb, a BMI between 18 and 25 is healthy.
But someone who is very fit and muscley could have a BMI greater than 25 which would suggest, incorrectly, that they were obese.
Conversely, someone who has a petite frame might fall below 18 but still be healthy.
And BMI is a useless indicator in people under 16. Instead, weight for height ratio should be used to factor in the young person's age and potential for growth.
There are a host of signs and measures that can indicate if we are doing enough.
Some signs of these measures are as following:
- It was sometimes possible to tell if someone was malnourished just by looking at them, even if they were a 'normal' size and weight.
- Loss in skin colour, dull and dry hair, redness or swelling of mouth or lips, problems with gums or eyes, dryness of skin and brittle/ridged nails can indicate malnourishment."
- Lab tests to get a full picture of a person's nutritional status.
A general healthy lifestyle is absolutely crucial. If you do exercise, being overweight is far less of a problem.
As a head question what can you advise men how he takes care of his health?
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I agree with that the BMI index is useless. A healthy muscelar person with much muscle max can be indicated by th bmi as obese. To see if you are obese or malnourished check in the mirror or old pictures and compare. That's my advice.
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