Scientific Assessment of Overweight: Methods for Calculating Standard Weight and the Dangers of Obesity
Are you overweight?
In an era where thinness is considered beautiful, more and more people are paying attention to weight loss and their body shape. People are categorized as thin or fat; being underweight is considered thin, and being overweight is considered fat. So, what standard do we use to measure whether someone is thin or fat? Of course, we need a reference value, which we call the ideal weight.
Common calculation methods
Currently, there are two commonly used methods for calculating body weight.
Firstly: Standard adult weight (kg) = [height (cm) - 100] × 0.9
Secondly: Standard weight for men (kg) = height (cm) - 101
Standard weight for women (kg) = height (cm) - 100
The latest method for calculating the ideal weight for Chinese people
The two calculation methods mentioned above are basically widely used. A recently introduced method for calculating the ideal weight for Chinese people is as follows:
Ideal weight (kg) for Northerners = [height (cm) - 150] × 0.6 + 50
Ideal weight (kg) for people from southern China = [height (cm) - 150] × 0.6 + 48
A simple method for calculating a child's standard weight:
Standard weight (kg) for 1-6 months = birth weight (kg) + age in months × 0.6
Standard weight (kg) for 7-12 months = birth weight (kg) + age in months × 0.5
Standard weight (kg) for children over 1 year old = 8 + age × 2
Internationally popular standard weight measurement methods
In recent years, the international standard weight measurement method that uses body mass index to study human obesity has become popular, namely the BMI (Body Mass Index) method or the Quetelet coefficient method.
The calculation formula is as follows:
BMI = Actual weight (kg) / Height (m) squared
The world standard for obesity is: a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal; a BMI greater than 25 is overweight; and a BMI greater than 30 is obese.
Quetelet defined the standard body mass index (BMI) as 22, which was determined from an immunological perspective using various data.
According to: Standard weight (kg) = Height (m)² × 22
Obesity degree = [actual weight (kg) / standard weight (kg) - 1] × 100%
Japanese scholars offer the following assessment of fatness and thinness:
If a person's weight is 20% to 24% below the standard weight, it is considered grade 2 wasting.
If a person's weight is 10% to 19% below the standard weight, it is considered grade 1 emaciation.
A weight that is within 10% below or above the standard weight is considered to be within the normal range.
If a person's weight is 10% to 19% above the standard weight, they are considered to be obese (grade 1).
If a person's weight is 20% to 24% above the standard weight, they are considered to be obese (grade 2).
If a person's weight is 25% higher than the standard weight, they are considered to be obese (grade 3).
Because a person's weight is related to many factors, there are differences between individuals, and even for the same person, it can vary at different times of the day. Furthermore, geographical location (due to gravity), season, climate, and individual circumstances also have an impact on weight, making it difficult to perfectly conform to a standard weight. In other words, it's difficult to represent standard weight with a constant value; rather, it should be a numerical range, which we call the normal value, generally within ±10% of the standard weight. Weight exceeding this range is considered abnormal.
Advantages of standard weight
People of normal weight generally have a more balanced diet and their bodily systems are generally superior to those of obese individuals. Studies on obesity show that, for the same height, the heavier a person is, the higher their mortality rate and the shorter their lifespan. Animal experiments also show that animals that have a limited but adequate diet throughout their lives tend to be lighter in weight and live longer. This is because smaller food intake helps them avoid the chronic toxins in food, reducing their chances of developing serious diseases. Furthermore, lighter individuals have less strain on their hearts, thus contributing to their longevity.
Adverse consequences of being overweight
Being overweight not only affects physical appearance but also causes personal distress. Excessive fat accumulation places an extra burden on the body, leading to frequent fatigue, shortness of breath, heat intolerance, excessive sweating, and difficulty engaging in strenuous physical activity. It can also cause various neurological discomforts. Many diseases originate from obesity. For example, obese individuals are more prone to diabetes due to increased insulin secretion; their adipose tissue stores more cholesterol, increasing total cholesterol levels and cholesterol excretion in bile, thus raising the incidence of gallstones; simultaneously, obese individuals have higher blood triglyceride levels, which can induce or worsen arteriosclerosis and coronary heart disease.
Statistics show that obese individuals are twice as likely to suffer from cerebral embolism and heart failure, twice as likely to develop coronary heart disease, two to six times more likely to develop hypertension, four times more likely to develop diabetes, and four to six times more likely to develop gallstones compared to those of normal weight. More seriously, obese individuals have significantly shorter lifespans; reports indicate that 45-year-old men who are 10% overweight have an average lifespan that is four years shorter than those of normal weight.
In daily life, obesity can also bring some unnecessary troubles. For example, obese people often leave a bad impression during job interviews; obese people themselves may also suffer from psychological trauma and lack of self-confidence because of their obesity; and it can also have a certain impact on their personal life.
Weight loss is a lifestyle
All these reasons have led to a surge in people joining the weight loss movement. However, weight loss is not a matter of a day or two; it requires perseverance and willpower. Many people talk about losing weight but don't actually do it. Inconsistent efforts are ineffective. The key to beautiful and healthy weight loss is to develop a balanced diet. The secret to healthy and beautiful weight loss is: don't starve yourself, don't restrict your food intake, avoid high-calorie foods, and eat three regular meals a day.
Firmly believe in losing weight
How many times have you tried to lose weight so far? Many people often give up halfway, either unable to resist the temptation of delicious food or the allure of snacks. So when you decide to lose weight, you need to have a firm belief. For example, you can buy a piece of clothing that you like but can't wear because you're too fat and hang it by your bedside to motivate yourself, or you can make an agreement with a friend to supervise each other.
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