When Does My Weight Become a Problem?
Greetings Athletes!
When Does My Weight Become a Problem? That’s a great question. You’re not obese but you know you have a “few” extra pounds but life is short and you want to enjoy your food and drink without stressing about it. To answer your question, let’s start with your body mass index (BMI). Do you know what that is and why it’s important? It’s relatively easy to ballpark an answer. Use this tool on my website to find out your BMI, then look at the chart to determine where you are on the index.
Obviously the closer you are to the normal the better. But what are the implications if you fall into the low end of the overweight category? There is obviously a correlation with a higher BMI to disease. You can see what the CDC says about it here. However, there are some concerns with BMI as a tool in that it may not be always be accurate as everyone is different and body composition can alter the numbers. For example, I am fairly lean and muscular, but the BMI tool many times places me in the overweight category. There is an interesting article here that outlines some of the problems with BMI.
So should you be concerned if you fall into the lower end of the Overweight classification? I do want to put out a disclaimer here in that I am not giving medical advice, if your healthcare provider says you should be concerned, then you should be concerned. From a perspective of personal fitness and training, you should follow a holistic program regarding your health. If you fall into the low end of the overweight spectrum, you are increasing your risk of disease. Although there are some potential problems with BMI, it is a pretty good indicator of the impact your weight has on your health. There is also a slippery slope here, especially as you move into your 40s, 50s and beyond. If you just put on an extra pound in 3 months, or 4 pounds per year, in 5 years you could be 20 pounds overweight, in 10 you can be 40 pounds overweight! Why are so many obese people in their 50s and 60s, because it snuck up on them!
Do yourself a favor. Exercise regularly and monitor what you eat. You can still enjoy your food and drink but do so in moderation and keep track of that weight so it doesn’t sneak up on you!
Remember… you are built for more!
John