So What’s A Healthy Weight Anyway?

It’s no secret that obesity rates have continued to increase in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 34% of adults age 20 and older are obese, and 34% are overweight. Moreover, a recent study reported that 30% of overweight people believe they have a healthy weight and 70% of obese participants believed they were just overweight. Maintaining a healthy weight is important for preventing numerous diseases including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain cancers. So, what exactly is a healthy weight and how can you know if your weight is healthy?

Body Mass Index, a ratio of your height and weight is often used to assess healthy weight. The BMI categories are described below:

Underweight = less than 18.5
Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
Overweight = 25-29.9 
Obese = BMI of 30 or greater (There is 1 and 1/2 of me instead of 1)
Morbidly Obese = BMI of 40 or greater (There are two of me instead of 1 healthy one)
To find out if you're at a healthy weight for your height, find your Body Mass Index (BMI) at (http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/):

How to get to a healthy weight
· Follow a healthy diet, and if you are overweight or obese, reduce your daily intake by 500

calories for weight loss
· Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day
· Reduce the number of sodas and other fruit drinks you consume daily
· Use the nutrition facts label to choose foods low in fat, sodium and cholesterol
· Increase your physical activity level (goal of 30 minutes a day)

Visit http://www.mypyramid.gov/ to get a personalized food plan