Are you really over weight? Well, if you have more fat on your body in comparison to muscle then maybe so. If indeed you are overweight does this mean you are not healthy? Of course not. Does it mean that you may be at risk for becoming unhealthy? Maybe so. There are many factors that determine whether you are at risk for developing some medical ailment due to being over weight. The first one is to determine how much fat you have on your body in comparison to muscle tissue. The acceptable range for body fat percentages for the male is between 13% and 18%, and for the female it is between 17% and 26%.

Okay, what does this tell you so far? Not much right? So what can you do to determine your body fat percentage and see whether you are over weight or not? Well, there are several things. One way is waist to hip ratio which we will talk about in a few. Another fairly simple way is using skin-fold calipers. This is a tool that is used to measure the thickness of fat on certain areas of the body. A simpler way would be to see if you can pinch an inch. You have heard that phrase before I'm sure. Pick a spot directly beside your navel and pinch with your thumb and first finger. How much did you pinch? If you pinched more than one inch then chances are you fall out of the averages above. Don't worry, nearly everyone I have seen can pinch more than one inch. Does this mean you need to lose weight? What it all boils down to is are you happy with the way you look and feel.

There is also the waist to hip ratio method. If your waist measurement exceeds that of your hips, then you are considered to be over weight. Okay, let's forget about the so-called body fat percentages and so forth and see if there is another way to quickly determine whether or not you are over weight. The scale! This method is the quickest and easiest, although in some cases not the most accurate. Why? Because muscle tissue is heavier than fat. A bodybuilder for example would be considered over weight according to the charts below, however since his weight is mostly made up of muscle tissue he is not considered to be over weight. A word that is commonly used today instead of over weight is over fat.

What is your ideal body weight? See the following weight chart below and find out.

Height and weight chart for women.

Height and weight chart for men.

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