Standards have changed over recent decades, and what was once considered an unhealthy weight is now considered ok to lessen the immense increase in obesity in our population. Given this how are we to truly know what weight we should be? What really is healthy?

Very good point! While there is some variation in values (i.e. muscular people may tend to be heavier than "ideal" but have low body fat), the BMI chart and abdominal circumference measurements are 2 things that can help you determine if you are in a healthy weight range.

Abdominal fat (waist circumference) and "waist to hip ratios" are easily calculated. If you have a measuring tape at home, you can do this yourself. There are online calculators that will calculate your waist to hip ratio, you simply need to plug in your measurements.

Here is a website to get you started:

http://www.consumer.gov/weightloss/bmi.htm

Not matter what your weight, focus on being active and eating healthy. This is beneficial and still makes a difference no matter what weight you are at right now. If you stick with it, in most cases, at least *some* of the excess weight will come off. Even an 8 LBS weight loss has health benefits!

I agree that it is very confusing in this day and age to determine what exactly *is* a healthy weight anymore if the majority of people are above a healthy weight!

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Pre-Med Student

I forgot to point out that we must not confuse "average weight" with "healthy weight". Nowadays these are not the same!

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Pre-Med Student