Finding your healthy weight Pt 1

Nearly everyone has a predetermined idea of what weight they would like to be, but many of us do not know what our healthy weight range should be.
There are so many different ways to evaluate your recommended body weight that it can be a little confusing to know what the best one is for you as an individual.
This is made all the more bewildering with calculations based on such terms and measurements like...
• BMI
• Bathroom scales
• Hip to waist ratio
• Lean mass to fat mass
• Underwater weighing
• Bio-electrical impedance
• Dual energy x-ray absorbency
• Skin fold thickness / Body fat percentage
Most of the above list has some value in it. So what do these measurements represent, and which is the best one for you?
This week we will discuss the BMI v bathroom scale
BMI (Body Mass Index) is a measurement to calculate body fatness based on weight (kgs) divided by height in meters squared. A measurement below 18.5 is underweight, 18.5 – 24.9 is considered normal weight range, 25.0 is overweight, and 30.0 is obese.
Example weight 68kg, height 165cm (1.65m)
Calculation is 65 ÷ (1.65) ² = 24.98
Your BMI is not accurate for anyone who is muscled and very lean as they may show up with a reading of 25.0 or above. But for most people this works OK.
Bathroom scales determine your total weight. This includes your whole body composition made up of muscle, water, bones etc. The bathroom scales will not show your changing shape as you begin to strengthen your muscles through exercise. It is all too common to see a reduction in body fat and an increase in your lean muscle, and not see any difference on the bathroom scales.
BMI and the bathroom scales are 2 common ways individuals and your doctor may determine a healthy weight range.