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Interactive Tool: Do Your BMI and Waist Size Increase Your Health Risks?

What does this tool measure? Back to top

Interactive Tool: Do Your BMI and Waist Size Increase Your Health Risks?

 

Click here to find out whether your BMI increases your health risks.

This interactive tool estimates your risk of weight-related diseases by using your body mass index (BMI) along with your waist measurement and other factors. The higher the BMI, the greater the risk of some diseases, including high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, stroke, osteoarthritis, some cancers, and type 2 diabetes.

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Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health.
Interactive tools help people determine health risks, ideal weight, target heart rate, and more. Interactive tools are designed to help people determine health risks, ideal weight, target heart rate, and more.
  BMI and Health Risks

What does your score mean? Back to top

Your score will appear as one of the following ranges:

  • Healthy weight and waist size: Your weight and waist size do not put you at risk for serious health problems.
  • Moderate risk: Your weight or waist size is one reason you are at moderate risk for serious health problems. Talk to your doctor about ways to lower your risk.
  • High risk: Your weight or waist size is one reason you are at higher-than-normal risk for serious health problems that could shorten your life. Talk to your doctor about ways to lower your risk.

What's next? Back to top

If you are concerned about your score, talk to your doctor about developing a healthy lifestyle. For more information, see the topic Weight Management.

Source: U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, U.S. National Institutes of Health (2000). The Practical Guide: Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults. (NIH Publication No. 00-4084). Available online: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/prctgd_c.pdf.

References Back to top

Other Works Consulted

  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (2000). The Practical Guide: Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults (NIH Publication No. 00-4084). Available online: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/prctgd_c.pdf.
  • Purnell JQ (2011). Obesity. In EG Nabel, ed., ACP Medicine, section 6, chap. 12. Hamilton, ON: BC Decker.

Credits Back to top

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Rhonda O'Brien, MS, RD, CDE - Certified Diabetes Educator
Last Revised December 21, 2012

Last Revised: December 21, 2012

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Rhonda O'Brien, MS, RD, CDE - Certified Diabetes Educator

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

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