Optimal Body Mass Index (BMI)

Most people know that their weight has a strong effect on their health. But not everyone has a clear picture of what is an appropriate weight for them.

Being overweight puts you at risk for a wide range of serious diseases and conditions including:

• Hypertension or high blood pressure
• Coronary heart disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Stroke
• Gallbladder disease
• Osteoarthritis
• Sleep apnea and other breathing problems
• Some cancers such as breast, colon and endometrial cancer
• Mental health problems, such as low self-esteem and depression

Obesity is one of the leading factors in heart disease and stroke, as well as in Type 2 diabetes, which affects an estimated 1.8 million Canadians. If you are overweight, you are at high risk of becoming obese, which can more seriously affect your health.

But there are also hazards involved in being underweight, including nutritional deficiency diseases, and obsession with weight loss can lead to eating disorders, which can be very harmful and even fatal.

Your best weight range is calculated on the basis of your height and weight, producing your body mass index (BMI). A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. Find out what yours is by using this formula:

BMI = weight(kg)/height(m)²

Although the BMI is useful for healthy adults (ages 20 to 65 years), it does not apply to infants, children, adolescents, pregnant or breastfeeding women, endurance athletes, highly muscular people, or adults over 65 years of age.

Source: Health Canada. Canadian Guidelines for Body Weight Classification in Adults.