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Maintaining a healthy weight
is an essential part of any personal wellness program. Excess body fat can increase the risk for many of our nations
most common and serious health problem, including high blood pressure,
heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and several cancers.
What is a healthy weight? The weight at which you look and feel your best is one answer. Another
more objective answer is the weight at which you have the lowest risk for
disease and at which you live the longest. Large population studies have addressed this issue. In these studies, scientists use body
mass index (BMI), a
measure of weight to height, to assess a healthy weight.
People with BMIs of 18.5 to
24.9 live the longest. As BMIs increase over 25 mortality rates rise. At a BMI of 30, mortality rates are approximately
50%
higher than in lean individuals.
Being excessively lean can also increase
health risks. Use the BMI Calculator below to check your BMI and risk
status.
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