MAINTENANCE OF BODY WEIGHT

MAINTENANCE OF BODY WEIGHT

Weight is one of the gross parameters of our health. The life insurance companies collected data about weights for heights of healthy individuals to set up norms of weights for heights to be used as guides in the medical examination of their clients. The clients, who were overweight or underweight were found to be greater risks, and therefore had to pay higher premiums. Thus overweight can be a financial liability.

A healthy normal person reaches the desirable weight for his / her height by 25 years of age. It is advisable for a person to maintain that weight throughout life. This is the reason why all tables indicate desirable weight for height for men and women at 25 years.

Table: Weight for Height for Males and Overweight – underweight Limits.

Height (cm)	Weight (kg)	Overweight limit (20%)     (kg)	Underweight limit (-20%)   (kg)
148	47.5	57.0	38.0
152	49.0	59.0	39.0
156	51.5	62.0	41.0
160	53.5	64.0	43.0
164	56.0	67.0	45.0
168	59.0	71.0	47.0
172	62.0	74.5	49.5
176	65.5	78.5	52.4
180	68.5	82.0	55.0
184	72.0	86.5	57.5
188	75.5	90.5	60.5
190	77.5	93.0	62.0

1.      Derived from Life Insurance Corporation. Agent’s Manual.

   2.Weight have been founded off to the nearest half kilogram.

3.      Overweight and underweight limits are calculated from weight in column 2, by adding or subtracting 20 per cent.

When energy intake is equal to body needs, body weight is maintained at a fairly constant level, in a healthy adult. Thus constant body weight is an index of energy balance in healthy adults. Consistent intake of inadequate food, which is unable to meet the body’s need for energy, leads to use of body fat to make up the deficit and there is loss of weight. An underweight person has reduced capacity for work, vitality and decreased resistance to disease.

On the contrary, continuous intake of energy in excess of one’s needs, results in deposition of fat. If this practice is continued, the gain in weight may be unsightly. Overweight is associated with ailments of heart, circulatory system, kidneys and diabetes. Please remember that there is no reason for a person for a person to weight more when he is 40 than what the weighed at 25 years of age. The same is true of later years.

Table: Weight for Height for  Females and Overweight – underweight limits.

Height (cm)	Weights (kg)	Overweight limit (kg) (+20%)	Underweight limit (kg) (-20%)
148	46.5	56.0	37.0
152	48.5	58.0	39.0
156	50.5	60.5	40.5
160	52.5	63.0	42.0
164	55.0	66.0	44.0
168	58.0	69.5	46.5
172	60.5	72.5	48.5
176	64.0	77.0	51.0
180	67.0	80.5	53.5
184	70.5	84.5	56.5
188	74.0	89.0	59.0

1.      Derived from Life Insurance Corporation, Agent’s Manual.

2.      Weight have been founded off to the nearest half kilogram.

3.       Overweight and underweight limits are calculated from weight in column 2, by adding or subtracting 20 per cent.

Continued increase in weight in a healthy adult after the age of 25, indicates intake of energy in excess of body needs. The body has no mechanism to rid itself of this extra energy and therefore stores it in the form of fat.