There are 2 ways to find out if you have healthy weight:
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:
A body mass index (BMI) calculation involves dividing body 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=27 kg/m2
(Weight÷height÷height=BMI)
The desirable range is from 18.5 to 25 kg/m2. The following applies to adults:
The average BMI for Australian women is 26 kg/m2 and for men 27 kg/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.
Updated June 2008