Try this simple 30 second test to know if you are overweight and your health is at risk

NewsTry this simple 30 second test to know if you are overweight and your health is at riskIt can put you at risk for a number of dangerous diseases and conditions if you are carrying too

much excess weight.getsurreyBookmarkShareCommentsNewsByFiona CallinghamLifestyle writer07:00, 1 JAN 2025BookmarkNICE has updated its recommendations on the best way to check if you are

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Individuals have been urged to perform a straightforward 30-second test at home to determine if they are categorised as overweight, and need to take action to prevent health risks. Your

weight is influenced by numerous factors such as genetics, age, illness, injury, diet, and physical activity levels, among others.

Excessive weight can also increase your risk of serious diseases and conditions. For instance, obesity is known to heighten the likelihood of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, certain

cancers like breast and bowel cancer, and stroke.

Alarmingly, it's estimated that around one in every four adults and approximately one in every five children aged 10 to 11 in the UK are living with obesity. While there isn't a

universal rule for ideal weight due to the multitude of influencing factors, it is possible to estimate whether you might be carrying excess weight.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) states that updated guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) includes a recommendation about a new method to identify if

your weight could be impacting your health risk. This suggests that, generally, your waist should measure half your height.

"The new NICE guidance encourages you to keep your waist size to less than half your height," the BHF said. It is as simple as it sounds - you just need to measure your height and your waist

for the results.

The BHF continued: "So, if you are 170cm tall (5ft 7inches) then your waist circumference should be less than 85cm (around 33 inches). Your waist is the mid-point between the bottom of your

ribs and the top of your hips - not necessarily where the waistband on your clothes is."

While this is just a rough indicator, it offers several advantages over the body mass index (BMI). "The good thing about the ‘waist size less than half your height’ guide is that it’s easy

to understand and easier to work out than your BMI," BHF experts asserted. "It works as a guide because having fat stored around your middle is linked to greater risk of heart and

circulatory diseases than compared with fat stored in other places, such as around the hips and thighs."

They added: "It’s also easier to remember than the standard waist circumference guidance, where the sizes that put you at increased risk are different for men and women, and in some cases

may even be different for people from different ethnic backgrounds."

To calculate your waist-to-height ratio, the NHS says you need to:

Wrap the tape measure around this middle point, breathing naturally and not holding your tummy in Take your measurement and divide it by your height, measured in the same units (for example,

centimetres or inches).

If you are concerned about your weight you should speak to your doctor.

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