{"id":18242,"date":"2019-06-18T16:17:20","date_gmt":"2019-06-18T21:17:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thepapergown.zocdoc.com\/?p=18242"},"modified":"2023-03-03T15:36:41","modified_gmt":"2023-03-03T20:36:41","slug":"1-question-5-answers-how-do-i-know-if-im-at-a-healthy-weight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/advice\/1-question-5-answers-how-do-i-know-if-im-at-a-healthy-weight\/","title":{"rendered":"1 Question, 5 Answers: How Do I Know if I’m at a Healthy Weight?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The narrative around weight and health is complicated. When wellness bloggers share detoxifying diet tips, or public health experts caution against the dangers of obesity, it\u2019s hard not to equate healthy with thin. At the same time, a growing body-positive movement is preaching size acceptance, and plenty of doctors, scientists and nutritionists are telling us that BMI \u2014 body mass index \u2014 is a <\/span>meaningless measure of health<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In a culture where <\/span>strong is the new skinny<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>skinny-fat is bad<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>fat can still be fit<\/span><\/a>, <\/b>the meaning of a \u201chealthy weight\u201d might not always be clear. We asked five experts what patients should know about the number on the scale, and what it says or doesn\u2019t say about their overall health.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Linda Bacon, PhD<\/span><\/h2>\n

Professor, researcher and author of <\/span><\/i>Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight and Body Respect
\nCalifornia<\/em>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Your weight tells you, well, your weight. That\u2019s about it. It doesn\u2019t tell you anything about your health.<\/span><\/p>\n

Everyone, regardless of what they weigh, can benefit from taking good care of themselves. When you stop conflating weight with health, you can find much more effective ways to pursue good health. What makes you feel better in your everyday life? Do you feel better when you eat more fruits and vegetables, drink more water, take a walk with a friend, meditate or get enough sleep? The scientific data is clear: Those behaviors enhance your health and well-being, regardless of whether they change your weight.<\/span><\/p>\n

To be clear, I am not suggesting that people are healthy at any size; instead, I am suggesting that people at any size can be empowered to focus on improving their health by adopting behaviors that are not focused on weight.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fat isn\u2019t the real problem. A society that rejects anyone whose weight doesn\u2019t conform to arbitrary standards is the problem. A medical establishment that equates \u201cthin\u201d with \u201chealthy\u201d is the problem. The best way to win the war against fat is to give up the fight.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Rachel Brandeis, RDN, MS<\/h2>\n

Dietician nutritionist
\nAtlanta<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

I absolutely believe that weight is one indicator of someone\u2019s health, but cannot be looked at singularly. Weight combined with waist size is clinically significant. If you are overweight by the BMI range and your waist is outside the normative set points, you are clinically at risk for certain diseases and it should be addressed. You also have to factor in family history as well into all of this.<\/span><\/p>\n

A “healthy” BMI range is anywhere between 18 to 24. You don’t have to strive to be at the low end, but it’s important to know where you fit into the range. However, this range actually does not apply to everyone, especially those that have lots of muscle mass, since muscle weighs more than fat and the standard BMI equation does not account for lean mass in excess of fat mass. If you are an athlete, someone who lifts heavy weights or who in general carries proportionally more lean mass to fat mass, this range is not for you. A better measurement would be waist circumference. A healthy waist size for women is less than 35 inches, and for men less than 40 inches. <\/span><\/p>\n

With my clients, I tend to focus not on the scale or waist size, but on overall health. Most people know if they are overweight, but the bigger question is \u201cHow do I know what weight should I be?\u201d I believe that there is a natural “set” weight that your body can maintain comfortably and a general clothing size that is easily maintained as well. Using clothes as your guide eliminates the scale and allows you to feel good in your own skin. <\/span><\/p>\n

Overall, it really depends on what works for you as an individual. Nutrition and health are definitely not one size fits all; it’s very individualized. So how do you know if you are a healthy weight? If you want to assess: BMI, body fat percentage, waist circumference or clothes size. They all work, but you need to find the one that works best for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Vandana Sheth, RDN, CDE, FAND<\/span><\/h2>\n

Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and author of <\/span><\/i>My Indian Table \u2014 Quick & Tasty Vegetarian Recipes
\n<\/span>Torrance, California<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Health is so much more than a number on a scale. Incorporating a healthy lifestyle and being happy are two important factors contributing to your health, and I love helping clients build a healthy relationship with food. A few ways you can potentially identify that you are at a healthy weight without stepping on a scale include:<\/span><\/p>\n