Overweight vs. Obesity

Most people losing weight create a special number of how much they want to weight or what size in clothing they want to fit, then work toward that goal. However, there is actually a suggested weight that each person should be to maintain a healthy size. Now, many of these numbers are surprising because the numbers that sound like a healthy size could actually be overweight depending on the height of a person.

First, let’s look at what overweight and obesity truly mean.MedlinePlus explains that “obesity means having too much fat” and overweight means “weighting too much.” I honestly thought that someone who is obese simply weighs more than usual, but it is really the fat that is more. The article also mentions other illnesses that come from being obese such as arthritis and some cancers!

Rush University Medical Center provides a list of the suggested weight of a person and if a persons’ weight is normal, overweight, or obese. At 5’9” and weighing 177, I am considered overweight according to this chart. Click here to view where you fall on the scale.

A persons’ BMI (Body Mass Index) can determine someone’s “high body fatness” according to the CDC. My BMI is 26.1 which is overweight. Find yours now. Click on the article to read which BMI levels fall within each category of weight.