What does it mean to have a healthy weight?

“I’m fat.” “I need to lose weight.” “I think I may be overweight.” These are all comments that either we’ve all said at some point, or at least have heard a friend or family member say it. Most people make these comments when their clothes fit too tight or after they ate too much or when they feel out of breath when they try to exercise. But, how does someone really know if their weight is healthy or not?

What do you think? Is it:

1. By looking in the mirror
2. By asking a friend what they think
3. By calculating their BMI (Body Mass Index)
4. Only a doctor can tell you

The answer is “C”. Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a calculation that estimates how much body fat a person has based on their weight and height. You can use your BMI to estimate if your weight falls into one of these categories:

1. My weight is too low for my height
2. My weight is healthy
3. My weight is too high for my height (A doctor might call this “overweight.”)
4. I am overweight (A doctor might call this category “obese.”)

Watch this YouTube video to learn more about BMI

Calculate your BMI