Overview
Accurately calculating your weight and height helps you determine your health status: underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. Each status carries related health risks. The ideal weight standard depends on gender because of differences in body composition between men and women: men usually have a higher muscle ratio, so they may weigh more while still being healthy; women usually have a higher fat ratio, so both weight and body fat percentage should be considered to assess overall health.
Two important measures:
- Body fat percentage: Helps you better understand your body composition and make appropriate adjustments to diet and exercise.
- Fat distribution: Visceral fat is usually more dangerous than subcutaneous fat because it is a cause of metabolic diseases.
Combined with the body mass index (BMI) based on weight and height, you can accurately assess your health status.