As BMI increases, the risk for some diseases increases. Some common conditions related to overweight and obesity include:

• Premature death
• Cardiovascular disease
• High blood pressure
• Osteoarthritis
• Some cancers
• Diabetes
• Sleep Apnea

BMI is only one of many factors used to predict risk for disease. BMI cannot be used to tell a person if he/she has a disease such as diabetes or cancer. It is important to remember that weight is only one factor that is related to disease. Other factors that may be important to look at when assessing your risk for chronic disease include:

• Diet
• Physical Activity
• Waist Circumference
• Blood Pressure
• Blood Sugar Level
• Cholesterol Level
• Family History of disease

All persons who are obese or overweight should try not to gain additional weight. In addition, those who are obese or who are overweight with other risk factors should consider losing weight. A complete health assessment by your HUHS Health Clinician is the best way to decide the right steps for you. Whatever your BMI, talk to your doctor to see if you are at an increased risk for disease and if you should lose weight. Even a small weight loss (just 10% of your current weight) may help to lower the risk of disease Physical activity and good nutrition are key factors in leading a healthy lifestyle and reducing risk for disease.

To calculate your BMI, fill in the Body Mass Index Calculator below. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) web page will look like the following. Besides calculating your BMI, they also provide information about the BMI and what it means.