How does your BMI measure up?
Being overweight increases your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and other illnesses. A quick and easy way to evaluate your risk is to check your body mass index (BMI).
To calculate your BMI all you need to know is your height and weight. Let’s calculate your BMI right now.
BMI = weight (lbs.) divided by height (in.) divided by height (in.) x 703
For example, if you weight is 200 pounds and you are 5’10” (70 in.), your BMI equals 29.
200 divided by 70 divided by 70 x 703 = 28.7
BMI Categories:
Obesity Rates Have Stabilized
Researchers periodically evaluate data from NHANES (National Healthy and Nutrition Examination Survey). Recently rates of obesity were compared over the past 50 years.
Between 1960-1980 the number of adults who were obese stayed relatively stable. Between 1976-1980 and 1988-1994 data the number of obese adults in the US increased 8 percentage points. Then between 1999-2000 data reported further increases in the number of U.S. obese adults.
Well, the latest research has been analyzed again and the good news is that the percentage of obese women did not significantly increase between 1999 and 2008.
If obesity is not longer increasing, that is great news; but the fact that 68% of U.S. adults are overweight or obese and 32% of U.S. school children are above the 85th percentile BMI-for-age leaves plenty of room for concern.
It’s still critical that individuals who are overweight or obese take steps to lose the extra pounds. Obesity is a major health risk increasing risk for many diseases, including heart disease and cancer.
Overweight is defined as a body mass index (BMI) between 25-29.9.
Obesity is defined as a body mass index above 30.0.
Don’t know where you fall? Here’s a how to calculate your BMI:
Weight divided by height divided by height x 703 = BMI
Here’s an example:
Height = 64 inches
Weight = 150 pounds
150 divided by 64 divided by 64 x 703 = 25.7 (overweight)
The first step is to evaluate your situation and outline a plan of action. A Mini Diet Makeover will complete this for you – https://www.lisanelsonrd.com/minidietmakeover.html.
Have you been successful losing weight? I’d love to hear your story. You can share your story as a comment below.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
1-A-Week Weight Loss Tips
http://www.weightlosswithlisa.com
4 Diet Mistakes That Lead to Weight Gain
Aging throws some hurdles into your heart health and weight loss plans. For one your metabolism drops every decade as you age. Here are some mistakes to avoid if you want to see success:
1. Eating the same way you did 10-20 years ago.
Your metabolism (the rate you burn calories) decreases about 2% every 10 years beginning at age 30. If you continue to eat the same amount year after year you will gain weight.
2. Skipping meals.
May temporarily “save calories”, but you’ll quickly replace the calories as hunger leads you to overindulge at the next meal. Skipping meals can also cause your metabolism to slow down.
3. Jumping from fad diet to fad diet.
Fad diet should be synonymous with “bad diet”. There’s no research to back up the claims that eliminating this food or adding that one will cause you to lose weight. Nor will eating at only certain times of the day give you the long term results you seek.
4. Keeping unhealthy snacks within reach.
If you only have potato chips and sweets in your cupboards you are not setting yourself up for success. You must keep fruits and vegetables and healthy high fiber snacks on hand if you are to be expected to include more in your diet.
What are some of your habits that are sabotaging your success? I’d love to hear them. Share as a comment below.
Here’s a link to 1-A-Week Weight Loss Tips – http://www.weightlosswithlisa.com.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
Best Weight Loss Plan
http://www.bestweightlossplan.org
Weight Loss – 4 Tips to Get Back the Slimmer You
Overeating is an epidemic problem the past 3-4 decades. Since the 1970’s dietary changes have lead to an average of 18.9 additional pounds per adult. To return to slimmer times, everyone would need to cut ~500 calories everyday. As always, this is easier said than done; however, here are four tips to help you get on track:
1. Don’t rely on will power.
If you know the oreos in your cupboard will “call your name” until they are gone, don’t buy them. Keep them out of reach.
2. Set rules for yourself.
If you enjoy pop and popcorn with a movie, limit yourself to small serving sizes and no re-fill. You need to be careful when setting rules that you don’t start feeling deprived. Feelings of deprivation can backfire and lead to binges.
3. Plan your meals.
Planning in advance is a significant step in the right direction. By planning meals ahead you don’t have to think when in a hurry, you already know what you’re having and
4. Motivate yourself.
What’s the benefit to you if you reduce calories by 500 each day? Improved self confidence, more energy, better health? Find whatever rings true to you as the bottom line for why you need to make diet changes.
Receive a step by step plan to promote weight loss with a Mini Diet Makeover. As a special New Year’s bonus you’ll recieve a complimentary copy of the Calorie Counter for Dummies. Learn more here – https://www.lisanelsonrd.com/minidietmakeover.html
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
Top 5 Key Strategies to Lose Weight Permanently
http://www.weightlosswithlisa.com
