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Are you in the healthy weight range?

One way to check if your weight falls into the healthy weight range is to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a formula to determine a range of weights that are healthy for your height. You can calculate this by dividing your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in metres. If your BMI is between 19 and 25, you fit into the healthy weight range. See the formula below:


Weight (kg)               
--------------     = BMI
Height (m²)             
 

For children BMI-for Age charts are used to indicate if a child is a healthy weight or above a healthy weight. If you would like to know your child’s weight status visit your local doctor or community health clinic.

Because the BMI measurement does not provide an indication as to whether the weight is in the form of excess fat or muscle (since muscle weighs heavier than fat), it is important that you use waist circumference as a supportive measure. This is a simple method to determine if you have a lot of fat stored around your middle. People who have a lot of fat around the middle are at an increased risk of adverse health.

You are at an increased risk of adverse health if your waist measurement is:

Women  Greater than 80cm 
Men  Greater than 94cm