For many people the reason for being thin is strictly a cosmetic one. It is perceived as healthy and fits into the cultural context of what is considered attractive. But there are better reasons to avoid being overweight. Being obese puts you at a serious risk of developing disease. Staying within healthy parameters will diminish your risk and can help you feel better emotionally and physically. That’s not to say that you should be out starving yourself in order to achieve an acceptable weight, but is worth knowing where you stand in relation to body mass and risk factors.

Scientists in the UK claim they have developed a 3D scanner that can accurately determine if a person is truly obese.