Each individual is unique in every way. The concept of ideal body weight doesn’t mean one who is slim has the ideal body weight and perfect health. A lot of different factors are taken into consideration while calculating an ideal body weight of a person like age, muscle-fat ratio, height, sex, and bone density at any given time. Hence, there’s no point in comparing your ideal body weight with someone else and getting depressed, as we all are different.
Of course, maintaining an ideal body weight and a healthy diet is a difficult task to carry out but, did you know it can keep you at bay from numerous kinds of illness? So, let’s dig a little deeper to understand the importance of weight management and healthy diet.
Ideal body weight is a range of weights that tells you whether your weight is in proportion with your height and gender which is done using the Body Mass Index (BMI) in combination with the circumference of the waist. Now a person may not be of a normal weight according to BMI but may be healthy whereas a skinny person may not due to bad eating habits and lack of exercise. Please note that losing fat and losing weight are not the same thing.
BMI Calculator
The BMI of a body is calculated by dividing the weight in kilograms by the height in square metres. For eg., if the weight is 58 kg and height is 1.60 metres then BMI will be:
Weight (kg) ÷ height (m)2 = 58 kg ÷ (1.60 m)2 = 22.65
Thus, the BMI of the person will be 23.
When it comes to BMI, the most common question that people ask is whether a BMI of 18.4 healthy or not? Yes, it is. The range of an optimal BMI is between 18.5 and 25 but it is advisable to discuss with a health expert before coming to any conclusion.
Maintaining a healthy ideal weight and diet can be beneficial to you in the long term. It not only adds to your overall fitness but will also prevent the onset of diseases. The following are the countless benefits of a healthy BMI:
• Healthier heart
• Lower risk of stroke
• Decreased risks of developing some forms of cancer
• A good control over non-insulin dependent diabetes
• Prevention from gallbladder diseases
• Relief from back and joint discomforts
• Better sleep
• Increased energy levels
• Improvement in the immune system
• Reduced risks of osteoporosis
• Increased fertility
• Lower risk of anaemia
• Enhanced self-esteem
Tips to maintain an ideal weight and good health
We all know that maintaining a healthy weight and health in today’s routine is not an easy nut to crack, but nothing is impossible. The only key to achieve success is you. If you stick to certain good habits and bring about some minor changes in your lifestyle, you can maintain your healthy BMI. Here’s what you can do:
• Spend less time in sedentary activities (e.g., watching television, internet surfing)
• Engage in daily physical activities (e.g., walking, bicycling, gardening, housework)
• Make healthy food choices and reduce food portion sizes
• Consult a dietician and get a healthy diet suitable for you and stick to it
• Control your sugar cravings
• Introduce good lifestyle habits, such as drinking lots of water, getting enough sleep, etc.
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Check your weight regularly
Remember, prevention is better than cure, so a little prevention from your side can help you avoid the intake of unnecessary colourful pills.
