Are you Fat or Overweight?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 2 out of 3 U.S. adults are overweight or obese. Being overweight poses an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some forms of cancer.
The Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference provide useful estimates of body fat distribution. Fat around the waist is more likely to result in health problems than fat carried mainly in the hips and thighs. Women with a waist measurement of more than 35 inches or men with a waist measurement of more than 40 inches usually have a higher disease risk than people with smaller waist measurements.
BMI does not take into consideration the distribution of the fat. A more accurate estimate of the percentage of body fat can be obtained with the U.S. Navy Circumference Method which takes into consideration the height, neck, waist, and hip measurements.
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