It can be easy to be worried about whether or not you’re at a healthy weight these days since nearly 75% of American adults weigh more than is healthy, not to mention two-fifths of these adults struggle with obesity.
Because so many people weigh in above normal, it can be hard to know what a healthy weight is. You must understand what a healthy weight is for your health because being overweight or obese can increase your chances of developing health conditions, such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and many cancers.
At Integrative Medica, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, Jake Schmutz, NMD, Joshua Hersh, NMD, and the rest of our team want to make sure you have all the information you need to benefit your health and well-being. For that reason, we’ve listed some key signs that you might not be at a healthy weight and what to do about it.
Body mass index (BMI) isn’t necessarily a perfectly accurate tool, but it gives you a good starting point for understanding if you’re at a healthy weight. Your BMI is a number calculated from your weight and your height.
To learn your BMI, you can enter your height and weight into an online BMI calculator. You’re likely overweight if your BMI is 25 or higher.
It’s good to know that BMI doesn’t account for bone structure or muscle mass factors. So, your calculated BMI might not be a true reflection of your condition. Make sure to discuss your BMI with our team so we can ascertain how accurate it is for you.
Another factor that can signal you’re not at a healthy weight is that you carry fat in your stomach. Experts suggest that the larger your waist is, the greater your risk of being overweight or obese.
You can measure your waist to get a good indication of whether or not you’re at a healthy weight. If you’re a woman and your waist is over 35 inches, or you’re a man and your waist is over 40 inches, it’s a signal that you’re overweight. You also most likely have dangerous amounts of fat surrounding your vital organs.
While it isn’t always the case, snoring can point to you being overweight. This is because being overweight is highly correlated with sleep apnea. This sleeping disorder causes snoring along with irregular breathing.
Having sleep apnea can significantly increase your risk for health conditions such as stroke and heart attack. Fortunately, if you can lose weight, your sleep apnea — and all the risks that come with it — should improve.
Do you feel fatigued after completing simple tasks? Maybe you’re out of breath after walking around the grocery store, cleaning a room in your home, or getting dressed. These are signs that you might need to lose weight. Being overweight adds pressure to your vital organs, making you tire easily.
In addition, people who are overweight or obese are at a greater risk of developing conditions linked to fatigue. These include fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma, and chronic inflammation.
Because being overweight can put extra pressure on all your joints, the risk of developing joint problems like osteoarthritis is high. The more overweight you are, the more pressure there is, which means your joints degenerate faster.
If you’ve noticed achy knees, ankles, or hips, chronic back pain, or other painful joints, it might be time to consider losing weight. The sooner you take steps to get your weight under control, the sooner you can slow or stop a degenerative condition from developing.
If you suspect you’re overweight, our team is here to help. We can evaluate your health and determine if you have any underlying health conditions that might keep you from being able to lose weight effectively. The next step is to start a weight loss plan that works for you.
Are you ready to shed those extra pounds and reclaim your health? To set-up an appointment with our team, call us at 801-676-9876 or use our online booking tool today.
