Simple 30 second test to know if you are overweight and need to act
Share:
People have been urged to try a simple 30 second test at home to find out if they are classed as overweight and need to act to ensure their health is not at risk. According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), two quick measurements can act as a rough guide for this.
Your weight is influenced by multiple factors such as your genetics, age, illness, injury, your diet, and how much you exercise, among others. It can also put you at risk for a number of dangerous diseases and conditions if you have too much excess weight.
For example, obesity is known to increase your chances of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, some types of cancer, such as breast cancer and bowel cancer, and stroke. And worryingly, in the UK it's estimated that around one in every four adults and around one in every five children aged 10 to 11 are living with obesity.
While there is no one-size fits all rule for how much you should weigh as too many factors are at play, it is possible to have an estimate as to whether you could be carrying too much weight around. According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), updated guidance from NICE included a recommendation about a new way to identify if your weight could be affecting your health risk. This stated that, as a general rule, your waist should be half your height.
