1. Demystify your healthy weight
Did you know that healthy weight is not a magic number on a scale, but rather a weight range associated with optimal health? The further you deviate from this range, the greater your risk of developing health problems (e.g.: in the case of being overweight: cardiovascular diseases and diabetes; in the case of being underweight: osteoporosis and malnutrition). This said, having a healthy weight does not automatically mean you are healthy. Generally speaking, good lifestyle habits are the keys to good health.
Since we don’t all have the same body size and bone structure, healthy weight varies from one individual to the next. For any given size, several weights are considered “healthy weights”, which better reflects our society’s reality of many different shapes. For example: two individuals, identical in size, may both have a healthy weight without necessarily weighing the same. To find out your healthy weight range, you simply need to determine your Body Mass Index (BMI).
In addition, the location of excess weight is a major factor in determining health risks. Many women with extra curves around the buttocks, hips, and thighs wish to lose weight to meet current standards of beauty. Yet, excess weight in these locations is less dangerous to one’s health than fat accumulated around the abdomen. It is for this reason that health professionals take both BMI and waistline measurements into consideration. A waistline less than 88 cm (35 in) for women and 102 cm (40 in) for men is recommended.
To find out if you are within your healthy weight range, try
My Healthy Weight Assessment.
To achieve and maintain a healthy weight, adopt healthy lifestyle habits. Be physically active on a regular basis and eat healthy, including milk products daily. In fact, over 30 scientific studies have shown that milk products may help you to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Take good care of your body. It’s the only place you’ll live your whole life!
