BMI classed as health risk
Less than 18.5: Underweight, some health risk
18.5 to 24.9: Ideal, normal
25 to 29.9: Overweight, moderate health risk
30 to 39.9: Obese, high health risk
40 and over: Very obese, very high health risk
Waist size
Your increased health risk is greater when the extra fat is mainly around your waist ('apple shaped'), rather than mainly on your hips and thighs ('pear shaped'). As a rule, a waist measurement of 102 cm or above for men (92 cm for Asian men) and 88 cm or above for women (78 cm for Asian women) is a significant health risk.
In short, the heavier you are, the longer your carry the extra weight, and the more the fat is around your waist, the greater your health risk.
How common is obesity?
More than half the adults in the UK are heavier than recommended. About 2 in 5 adults are overweight, and about a further 1 in 5 are obese. The number of obese people in the UK is rising, particularly among young adults. Since 1980, the number of obese adults in the UK has nearly tripled. This has been called the 'obesity epidemic'.
