Obesity: Calculating Body Fat Percentage
Obesity is becoming a widespread problem in Canada and the US. In fact, for Americans over 20, more than 60% qualify as overweight. Information how to effectively determine if you are overweight will be included below. Excessive weight and fat are caused by two major reasons: Unhealthy nutrition and an inactive lifestyle. Be aware that genetic factors or medication may also have a contributing role in weight gain, be it either sudden or over time.
The importance of maintaining a healthy weight can’t be stressed enough. This matter is truly a question of subsistence and not ‘looking good’; if you calculate your body fat percentage and discover that you are obese, you must begin searching for an answer to your weight problem right away.
Untreated obesity along with lack of regular exercise may lead to high blood pressure, arrhythmia, diabetes and other conditions. Unfortunately, thousands of Americans suffer heart strokes that are often the result of obesity each year. Not only is being overweight frustrating mentally, but it is also quite hazardous.
Fortunately for you, there are a lot of techniques that you can employ in order to lose weight. The main idea is to establish some objectives for yourself and to devote yourself to those goals without quitting; the first step involves measuring your body fat percentage so that you are able to come up with an attainable goal. However, it is not reasonable to expect to lose 15, 20, or even 25 lbs simply over night through exercise, but it is possible to do so in one to three months. It is imperative that you come up with a reasonable goal for yourself. Otherwise it might lead to disappointments and feelings of discouragement. You also shouldn’t starve yourself to death. You can also occasionally reward yourself by having a delicious snack or even by treating yourself to a useful health item such as the Fat loss 4 idiots guide (read the Fat Loss 4 Idiots Reviews).
Hiking, working out in a gym or on a treadmill and jogging are great ways to speed up the “slimming” process. Exercise is good for weight loss, as it burns calories, but it is also excellent for our health in general. If done on a regular basis, it can put off the aging process in your body’s organs, bring pleasure and also enable your brain to receive more oxygen. Coupled with exercise, your brain will produce endorphins to help soothe any pain you may have. The effect endorphins can be compared to that of heroin or opium, they’re known to be hormones of pleasure. Work outs allow us to experience natural highs, with all the subsequent benefits.
There is a means by which you could confirm whether or not you are at the average weight for free. It is called BMI (Body Mass Index) which has been a recognized mathematical formula, used for centuries and which is a good way to calculate your body fat percentage. Introduced by Belgian scientist Adolph Quetelet, BMI allows to assess whether a given person’s weight is proportional to their height. In order to accurate calculate your BMI, measure your weight in kilograms, not pounds, and divide your weight by your height measured in meters squared.
Consider the following example:
Let’s say you weigh 77.2kg while you stand 1.75 meters tall; consequently, you would multiply 1.75 by itself, thus providing you with the sum of 3.06. Next, you would divide 77.2 (your weight) by 3.06, which then gives you the amount of 25.2 for your Body Mass Index.
There are 4 BMI ranges, 1- less than 18.7 which is underweight, 2- between 18.7 and 24.9 which is optimal weight, 3- BMI between 25 and 29 which is overweight and level 4 BMI of 30+ which is obese.
It is important to assess your own condition in order to take decisive steps towards improvement.
Maintaining a healthy weight is excellent for the self image, is less expensive, and allows you to enjoy life. You are worth the effort! Take charge of your current and future health. We live once, so let’s help ourselves live it to the max.
