Maintaining an ideal weight is an important part of good health. Over 60 percent of Americans are overweight, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States, behind smoking. People who are overweight have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease. People who are underweight are prone to bone loss, low blood pressure and infertility.
Step 1
Determine your baseline healthy weight. For women, this is 100 lbs. if you are 5 feet tall. Add an additional 5 lbs. for every inch you are over 5 feet. Petite? Subtract 5 lbs. for every inch you are under 5 feet. For men, your baseline healthy weight is 106 lbs. at 5 feet tall, adding an additional 6 lbs. for every inch over 5 feet.
Step 2
Make adjustments to your weight. If you are small-boned, subtract 10 percent from your baseline weight to determine your ideal weight. If you have a large frame, add 10 percent to your baseline weight to reach your ideal weight.
Step 3
Check your waist circumference. Weight is not the only issue that relates to health. Women with a waist circumference greater than 35 inches, and men with a waist circumference greater than 40 inches have an increased risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. Measure around your stomach, even with your belly button, to determine your waist circumference. Women should aim for a measurement of 31.5 inches or less, and men, 37 or less inches.
Step 4
Measure your waist-to-hip ratio. Measure your hip circumference by measuring around the hips, even with your hip bones. Divide your waist circumference by your hip circumference. For women, the ideal waist-to-hip ratio is below 0.8, and for men it is less than 1.
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
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