There is no definitive way of assessing obesity. However, many doctors use a height-weight system known as the Body Mass Index (BMI) as a rough guide to assessing obesity among the general population.
Here's a simplified chart (see below) of the BMI obesity level for men and women between the height of 4 feet 10 inches (1.47m) and 6 feet (1.83m).
How
to use the Obesity Chart
1. Find your
height in the Height column
2. Look in the Obesity Point column
to see when you become obese
Example
If you are 5 ft 4 inches tall, you start to suffer from obesity when you reach
about 175 pounds
| Height | Obesity point | ||
| Ft/inches | Metres |
Pounds | Kilos |
| 4.10 | 1.47m | 143 pounds (10 stone 3 pounds) | 65.0kg |
| 4.11 | 1.50m | 148 pounds (10 stone 8 pounds) | 67.3kg |
| 5.0 | 1.52m | 153 pounds (10 stone 13 pounds) | 69.5kg |
| 5.1 | 1.55m | 159 pounds (11 stone 5 pounds) | 72.3kg |
| 5.2 | 1.57m | 164 pounds (11 stone 10 pounds) | 74.5kg |
| 5.3 | 1.60m | 169 pounds (12 stone 1 pound) | 76.8kg |
| 5.4 | 1.63m | 175 pounds (12 stone 7 pounds) | 79.5kg |
| 5.5 | 1.65m | 180 pounds (12 stone 12 pounds) | 81.8kg |
| 5.6 | 1.68m | 186 pounds (13 stone 4 pounds) | 84.5kg |
| 5.7 | 1.70m | 191 pounds (13 stone 9 pounds) | 86.8kg |
| 5.8 | 1.73m | 197 pounds (14 stone 1 pound) | 89.5kg |
| 5.9 | 1.75m | 203 pounds (14 stone 7 pounds) | 92.3kg |
| 5.10 | 1.78m | 209 pounds (14 stone 13 pounds) | 95.0kg |
| 5.11 | 1.80m | 215 pounds (15 stone 5 pounds) | 97.7kg |
| 6.0 | 1.83m | 221 pounds (15 stone 11 pounds) | 100.4kg |
Note: All weights are approximate.
Important - Please note
Once you suffer from obesity you run an increased risk of developing a number of conditions. Here are some examples:
High blood pressure and stoke are twice as common in obese people.
Evidence is strong that obesity increases the risk of breast cancer (after menopause), womb cancer and kidney cancer.
Obesity may also increase the risk of colon cancer.
Gall bladder disease is three times as likely to occur in middle-aged obese women.
Diabetes is four times more common in middle-aged obese people than in middle-aged people of normal weight.
Coronary heart disease is twice as common in obese men under 45.