Weight management?
Whether you call it management or control, body weight management involves various methods of keeping body weight at a healthy or ideal level. This may involve losing excess weight, gaining needed weight or maintaining existing weight.
Ideal/Healthy Body Weight?
Depending on the source, healthy or ideal body weight can mean different things. The general understanding in the fitness profession is that healthy weight refers to what a person of a given height and body frame should weigh. In other words, it is the desired weight for optimal health and fitness. According to http://jennycraig.com, “ideal size is the size that you define, one that makes you feel good about yourself, feel healthy and is a size you can maintain” (http://youridealsize.com/?dfa=1). Finally if you look at http://www.webmd.com , you will find that healthy weight is put in the perspective of being one that lowers a person’s risks of health problem and diseases, particularly obesity and heart related diseases.
Weight Management Programs?
Typically, weight management programs include either one or a combination of techniques like: proper nutrition and diet, adequate exercise, medication and surgery. For the majority of people nutrition and exercise are important aspects of effective and sustainable weight management ; for those who are clinically obese and morbidly obese , or even severly underweight, medication and/or surgery may be required.
Significance?
Regardless of the technique or path used to get there, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent the onset of obesity related diseases like; Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension, Stroke, Heart Attack, Cancer, Gallstones, Gout, Sleep Apnea,a nd Pickwickian Syndrome, just to name a few. It also may improve the symptoms and outcomes of existing diseases (http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=4608 ) .
How to determine?
There are varies methods used to determine what a person’s ideal weight should be. Collectively these methods are sometimes called, body composition testing. They include:
- BMI (with or without frame size calculation);
- percentage of body fat;
- waist size;
- and waist-to-hip ratio;
We have discussed each of these methods in previous postings. Please click on the above link to access that articles. The results from the body composition testing will not only let you know if you need to lose, gain or maintain weight, but it will give a person clear indications of his/her risks for developing unhealthy weight related diseases and conditions.
Final Thought?
We urge and encourage you to take each of the body composition tests. There are tools for you to use right here on this site. Simply click the link Assessment Tools. You will be taken to an assessement tools page where you can use these tools. We believe that with knowledge comes the responsibility to act. if you choice not to act once you know, then that is your decision. Let's hope, however, that you make the wiser choice.
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