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.

The most common way of gauging your risk is to use the Body-Mass Index (BMI), which was created to measure your frame and weight. A person who is within the ‘normal’ weight designation is far less likely to develop any of the diseases associated with obesity. Once you move either up or down from the normal category your risk factor increase, and when you move very far, into a BMI beyond 40, your risk factor is considered lethal.

Staying healthy is important, as is keeping some body fat. Too much weight loss is as harmful as too much weight gain. The body needs fat to protect internal organs and keep a balanced temperature. So be aware of where you stand. Recognizing your risk factor and acting on it now can lengthen your life, and keep you happy, healthy, and strong.