Obesity plays an important part in the overall health of an individual. A person is considered overweight or obese based on his BMI (Body Mass Index). The BMI is calculated by dividing the weight of an individual by the square of the height (kgs/m2). As per the World Health Organization (WHO),
- A person with a BMI of 25 is overweight and
- An individual with a BMI of 30 or above is considered obese.
These numbers and indexes should be treated as indicative since the level of fat, weight of the bones and muscle in all adults can vary on the basis of sex, race and environment.
Given that obesity is a serious concern among kids and teens, the WHO is also delving on the issue of developing a growth reference index for children and adolescents.
Obesity is a major health risk, which is directly proportionate to the BMI of a person. It is a major cause for Heart Disease and stroke, Diabetes, osteoarthritis and some types of cancers.
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