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How to Calculate If You're Fit

Checking if you're fit allows you to know if you should take action to either reduce or increase your weight to avoid possible medical conditions. Being overweight or obese can significantly increase the risk of developing severe heart and blood-related conditions, among others. However, being underweight can also have a negative impact on your health and should prompt you to talk to a practitioner to assess the risks and your general health status. You can check if you are underweight, fit or overweight by calculating your Body Mass Index (BMI) and by measuring your waist size.

Things You'll Need

  • Bathroom scale
  • Tape measure
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Instructions

  1. Calculating Your BMI

    • 1

      Weigh yourself on a bathroom scale.

    • 2

      Open your Internet browser and visit a website that offers a BMI calculator such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website (CDC).

    • 3

      Type your weight in pounds, along with your height in feet and inches into the calculator. Then press the "Calculate" button. The website will display your BMI, which is a numerical value. If your BMI is between 18.5 and 25, you are in the "normal" or "fit" range. If your BMI is under 18.5, you might be underweight. Alternatively, if your BMI is over 25, you might be overweight, obese or morbidly obese. If you suspect that you are either under- or overweight, you should contact a medical practitioner who will be able to further assess your situation and may suggest an action plan to get you back in the "normal" range.

    Measuring Your Waist Circumference

    • 4

      Wrap a tape measure around your waist. Make sure to wrap it on your bare skin, just above the hip bone.

    • 5

      Exhale and relax.

    • 6

      Measure your waistline. If you are a man and your waist circumference is over 40 inches or if you are a non-pregnant woman and your waistline is over 35 inches, you might have excess abdominal fat. According to the CDC, "Excessive abdominal fat is serious because it places you at greater risk for developing obesity-related conditions, such as Type 2 Diabetes, high blood cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease. Individuals who have excessive abdominal fat should consult with their physicians or other health care providers to develop a plan for losing weight."

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