Weight gain (Obesity)
More than 2 in 3 women in the United States have overweight or obesity.1 Extra weight leads to many diseases that affect women, such as heart disease, diabetes, and many cancers. It can be difficult to talk about your weight with a doctor or nurse. A doctor or nurse you feel comfortable with can be a powerful partner in helping you reach a healthier weight.
How do I know if I have overweight or obesity?
You can use the body mass index (BMI) to find out whether your weight is in a healthy or unhealthy range. BMI is a tool to estimate body fat. Find your BMI by typing your height and weight into this BMI calculator from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Women with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are considered overweight.
Women with a BMI of 30 or more have obesity.
BMI gives you a good idea of how healthy your weight is. But it doesn’t tell the whole story. BMI is less accurate in some people than in others. For example, if you are very muscular, you may be healthy even if your BMI is above 25. This is because muscle weighs more than fat.
Another way to figure out if you have a healthy weight is to measure your waist circumference (the distance around your waist). Researchers and doctors have agreed that women with a waist circumference larger than 35 inches are at higher risk for many health problems caused by overweight or obesity
When should I talk to a doctor or nurse about my weight?
If you are worried about your weight, or if you have overweight or obesity, talk to your doctor or nurse. Your weight can raise your risk for many health problems and make it harder to get pregnant.
Your doctor or nurse may suggest healthy eating changes and more physical activity to help you reach a healthy weight.
