Body Mass Index (BMI)

If you are carrying extra weight it's a burden on your system: your heart, lungs and muscles have to work harder and being overweight is directly linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, heart conditions, and cancer. Fortunately as you lose weight these risks reduce. But before you start any diet it's important to know what your ideal weight should be.

Various different measures can be used to determine your ideal weight, but the most widely accepted and commonly used measure is Body Mass Index.

Aswhell Chart

As well as BMI, the waist measurement can be an important indicator. There are two important ratios that have been established as reliable indicators of overweight risk:

• waist to height should be less than 0.5 (half)
• waist to hip should be less than 0.8 (women) or less than 1 in men.

People with ratios above these values are at increased health risk because of their fat distribution.

Click here for more information on the Ashwell chart

Use our Calculator to find your BMI

BMI below 20 = Underweight
You are underweight for your height and your health could be at risk. You do not need to be on a weight loss programme. Talk to your doctor or health professional about how you can reach a normal weight.