Bodyweight, which is an important factor that influences health, refers to an individual’s heaviness in pounds. Various clinical concepts related to weight include healthy weight, overweight, underweight, and obese. A healthy weight is the one that persons can comfortably maintain with regular physical exercises and a normal healthy diet and is not associated with any medical problem. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2020), persons are considered overweight when their body mass index (BMI) ranges from 25.0 to 29.9. Calculation of BMI involves division of weight by height squared in meters, with normal BMI ranging from 18.5 to 24.9. People are described as underweight if their BMI is below 18.5. Obese is a term used to define individuals whose BMI is 30.0 or higher. A weight below or above the healthy one increases risks for various health conditions, such as malnutrition, diabetes, and hypertension.
Society’s opinion of underweight, overweight, and obese differ significantly from their clinical definition. Additionally, the view can vary across communities depending on the culture. The interpretation of weight mainly focuses on how people cope with social problems relating to being thin or fat. Increasing weight in some societies is considered a sign of being healthy if someone does not portray any health problem. Therefore, the perception creates the incentive of consuming foods that can help them gain weight without thinking about the negative impacts of such behavior. Modern females are obsessed with their shape and what others say about physical appearance. Most young females consider slender bodies as ideal shapes, which makes them contemplate losing weight. Even when they are underweight, others believe that they can control their weight. They do not consider their BMI and the health implications of being underweight. Indeed, society’s perspectives about weight are based on what people say and not health effects and medical definitions.
Reference
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Assessing your weight. Web.