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Thing You Must Know About Body Weight

By Dr. Vandana Soni in Bariatric Surgery / Metabolic

Nov 07 , 2020 | 1 min read

Our weight is one of the physical characteristics which describes us. However, apart from being a physical attribute, it holds the secret to our very existence - tangible and spiritual.

In this series of questions, I attempt to answer some questions regarding body weight which I have often pondered on.

1. Why is body weight so important to us?

Bodyweight is a vital part of our physical and mental health.

2. What is an ideal body weight?

There is no single defined value for an ideal weight. The ideal weight for a person depends on their height and age.

3. How can you find out your ideal body weight?

A simple method is through the BMI or body mass index equation. According to this equation your BMI = weight (Kgs)/ height2 (m2), therefore Weight = BMI x height2 (m2). For Indians, a healthy BMI is 18 - 23 Kg/m2.
Example: A person 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall should weigh between
18 x 1.5 x 1.5 = 40.5 Kgs
23 x 1.5 x 1.5 = 51.75 Kgs

4. Why is there a weight range?

Your weight depends upon a number of factors. These include your age, muscle mass fat mass, gender, and body shape (slender, compact, or stocky).

5. Is it better to be underweight or overweight

Being either underweight or overweight is not good. Both are two extremes of the malnutrition spectrum and are associated with a number of deficiencies and diseases. There is an adverse impact on the quality and longevity of life in either situation.

6. How does body weight impact mental health?

A healthy body begets a healthy mind. Our body and mind are in constant conversation. Our body acts on our mind’s commands and our mind feels what our body experiences. Thus physical actions like exercise and eating healthy release happy hormones in the mind and generate feelings of positivity and well-being. Hope this is of help to you.

Do let me know if you have a related query not addressed above. Will be happy to try to find answers to it.