I found this intro to a weight loss program sitting on the Yahoo site. It not only gives you a to height chart similar to the Body Mass Index that I hate so much (I have a bigger body type and would look kind of freaky at my mandate 180 pounds). The article that I have copied here also has lots of health benefits of having a healthy .
If you are over, you are more likely to develop health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, certain types of cancer, gout (joint pain caused by excess uric acid), and gallbladder disease. Being over can also cause problems such as sleep apnea (interrupted breathing during sleep) and osteoarthritis (wearing away of the joints). The more over you are, the more likely you are to have health problems. Weight loss can help improve the harmful effects of being over. However, many over people have difficulty reaching their healthy body . Studies show that you can improve your health by losing as little as 10 to 20 pounds.
Weight-for-height chart
Use the weight-for-height chart below to see if you are over. Find your height in the left-hand column and move across the row to find your weight. If your falls within the moderate to severe overweight range on the chart, you are more likely to have health problems. Weights above the healthy range are less healthy for most people.
What Is Your Waist Measurement?
If you are a woman and your waist measures more than 35 inches, or if you are a man and your waist measures more than 40 inches, you are more likely to develop heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain cancers. You may want to talk to your doctor or other health professional about the health risks of your .
Heart Disease and Stroke
Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death and disability for both men and women in the United States. Over people are more likely to have high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, than people who are not over. Very high blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (blood fats) can also lead to heart disease and often are linked to being over. Being over also contributes to angina (chest pain caused by decreased oxygen to the heart) and sudden death from heart disease or stroke without any signs or symptoms.
The Good News
The good news is that losing a small amount ofweight can reduce your chances of developing heart disease or a stroke. Reducing your weight by 10 percent can decrease your chance of developing heart disease by improving how your heart works, blood pressure, and levels of blood cholesterol and triglycerides.
Type 2 Diabetes
Noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes) is the most common type of diabetes in the United States. Type 2 diabetes reduces your body’s ability to control your blood sugar. It is a major cause of early death, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, and blindness. Over people are twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes as people who are not over. You can reduce your risk of developing this type of diabetes by losing and by increasing your physical activity.
Controlling Diabetes with Weight Loss
If you have type 2 diabetes, losing and becoming more physically active can help control your blood sugar levels. If you use medicine to control your blood sugar, loss and physical activity may make it possible for your doctor to decrease the amount of medication you need.