By: Mr Sean Low, Pharmacist at Unity Hougang Mall
First seen in Lifestyle Magazine (February 2014), pg 83. This article is an unbreached version of the print edition.
Weight management is a long-term approach to a healthy lifestyle. It includes a balance of healthy eating and physical exercise to equate energy expenditure and energy intake. Most people put on weight because they eat and drink more calories than what their bodies need. The excess energy builds up in their bodies as fat.
So what is healthy weight? The simplest guide for assessing body weight as well as the amount and distribution of body fat is by calculating the Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is calculated from a person’s weight and height to determine the amount of body fat. So the higher the BMI, the higher the amount of fat in the body.
A BMI value of 23 and above indicates that the weight is outside of the healthy weight range for that height. Overweight people are more likely to develop a range of medical conditions including: high blood pressure, heart disease, high blood cholesterol, cancers, diabetes, stroke, joint problems, sleep apnoea, and breathing problems. Excess weight can also lead to social problems (e.g. poorer job prospect, low self-esteem) and can make many activities more difficult such as walking and climbing.
Many people want to find the quickest way to lose weight but these methods are not effective in the long run. Weight loss should be gradual (e.g. 2kg per month to ensure fat is lost, rather than muscle or water).
1. Healthy eating
2. Physical activity