There are 2 ways to find out if you have healthy weight:
Our research shows that a waistline over 100 cm for men, and over 85 cm for women, significantly increases the risk for some types of cancer, including bowel, breast and oesophagus cancers. Many people measure their waist incorrectly (in the wrong spot), or rely on their belt or trouser size, which is often inaccurate. For an accurate waist measurement make sure you:
To calculate body mass index (BMI), divide weight (in kilograms) by height (in metres squared).
Example: Bob is 1.74 m tall and weighs 82 kg. To calculate his BMI:
82 ÷ 1.74 ÷ 1.74 = 27kg/m2
(Weight ÷ height ÷ height = BMI)
The desirable range is from 18.5 to 25kg/m2. The following applies to adults:
The average BMI for Australian women is 26kg/m2 and for men 27kg/m2, which means the average Australian is overweight.
A waistline measure is a better indication of fat distribution. BMI doesn't provide an accurate measure of fat versus muscle mass.