Not BMI. Simple 30-second test to find out if you are overweight

How to quickly find out if you are overweight

According to the British Heart Foundation, the updated guidelines provide information on a new way to determine if your weight may be affecting your health risk.

In particular, your waist circumference should be equal to half your height.

It's very simple - you just need to measure your height and waist to get the results.

For example, if your height is 170 cm, then your waist circumference should be less than 85 cm.

Your waist is the midpoint between the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips - not necessarily where the waistband is on your clothes.

Although it's only a rough measure, it has some advantages over body mass index (BMI).

Waist circumference is very quick to measure and understand if you are overweight.

It works as a guideline because fat accumulation around the middle is associated with a higher risk of heart and circulatory disease than when compared to fat accumulated elsewhere, such as around the hips and thighs.

It's also easier to remember than standard waist circumference guidelines, where the measurements that put you at increased risk are different for men and women, and in some cases may even be different for people of different ethnic backgrounds.

This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.