How to Decide if You're Overweight

Someone may have suggested that you are more than a little hefty, and that maybe you need to lose weight. Before you start heading out to the gym more often or changing your diet, make sure that the accused is not in optimal shape using the following steps.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure

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Instructions

• 1

  Weigh yourself. If you're close to getting a physical, go ahead and get that scheduled, as they'll tell you many of your physical characteristics that can help you determine whether you're overweight.

• 2

  Measure your height. This is necessary for preliminary calculations, which you can do at Hall's online BMI calculator.

• 3

  Compare your BMI to others of your age using Health Discovery's BMI chart if you're an adult. Since children are calculated in comparison to other children of the same age and gender, the goals fluctuate from year to year.

• 4

  Check your frame. If you've got a medium frame with an average muscular build, the BMI is a good indicator. Even if not, it's a rough guideline. If you've a heavy frame and still came in low, you're probably in good shape.

• 5

  Check out your body fat percentile. You can do this by getting your measuring tape and going Health Central's body fat test.

• 6

  Consider how much body fat you have. Women need to have more body fat than men, but having 32 percent body fat means that you're obese. For men, 25 percent is obese. The target number changes based on your activity level.

• 7

  Compare BMI and body fat values. If both are saying you're overweight, you need to change your lifestyle. If BMI comes out high, but your body fat is low, you probably have higher density muscles or bones. If BMI comes in low, but your body fat comes out high, your slight frame is more overburdened than an average person, so your body feels the effects more.