What are the other factors that can increase my health
risk?
Several other characteristics called “risk factors” can
increase your health risk even above the level determined by
your BMI alone. Each one of these risk factors increases
health risk. Only your doctor can determine if any of these
factors apply
to you and, if so, how much they will increase the risk to
your health.
Your health risk increases if:
• Your waist measures 40 inches or greater if you are
a man, or 35
inches or greater if you are a woman.
• Fat collects above your waist rather than around
your hips and
buttocks. The ratio between your waist and hip measurements
(called the waist-to-hip ratio) can help you determine where
your fat is
located. If your waist-to-hip ratio is greater than l.0 if
you are a man
or greater than 0.8 if you are a woman, your health risk
increases.
Either one of these factors increases your risk of the
obesity-related
diseases we reviewed earlier.
Your risk for obesity also increases if:
• You recently gained 10 or more pounds.
• You or another member of your family have been
obese in the past.
• You or another family member have, or used to have,
any of the obesity-related diseases.
• You are inactive.
• You are nearing or going through menopause.
• You were recently pregnant.
• You used to smoke.
