Reductil - What's My Ideal Weight?

What's My Ideal Weigh?

One way to find out what you should weigh is by calculating your Body Mass Index. Measuring your waist can also provide an accurate indication of your weight and any health risks. The good news is, even losing 10% of your body weight may significantly reduce health risks. For a more personalised weight assessment, talk to your doctor.

Measuring Body Mass Index (BMI)
Your BMI is a way to calculate your weight range taking into account your height. BMI is not an exact measurement for everyone. If you are less than 18 years old, pregnant or breastfeeding, taller than 190cm or less than 150cm, an athlete or body builder, the BMI will not reflect your true body fat levels.

Your BMI can be easily calculated by taking your weight divided by your height in metres squared.

Now, try and calculate your own BMI:

1. Measure your height in metres (eg. 165 cm is 1.65)
2. Multiply this number by itself (eg. 1.65 x 1.65 = 2.72)
3. Measure your weight in kilograms (eg. 95 kg is 95)
4. To calculate your BMI, divide answer 3 by answer 2

This gives you your BMI.

The World Health Organisation has set the following measures:
BMI less than 25 = Normal weight
BMI 25 to 30 = Overweight
BMI over 30 = Obese

Waist Measurement
Another way to check if you are overweight is waist measurement. Scientists have discovered that it is not only the total amount of body fat which is dangerous for your health, but where the fat is located on your body. The weight around your middle is potentially the most dangerous. This can be measured simply by running a tape measure around your middle. Be sure to keep the tape measure horizontally in line with your navel.

It’s time to seriously consider talking to your doctor about losing weight if your waist circumference is more than 88cm in women, or 102cm in men, or if your BMI is over 30. However, if you have high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure or diabetes you should consider talking with your doctor when your BMI reaches 27. In Asian populations, there is an increased risk of complications when the waist circumference reaches 80 cm in women and 90cm in men and the BMI reaches 25.

Body Weight FAQs

How can I tell if I am overweight or obese?

Checking your weight on a set of scales is part, but not the whole story in checking if you are overweight. Weighing yourself on a set of scales alone does not give you information about individual differences in body size, body fat, lean body mass and body water content. The most important component in terms of health risk is body fat which weighs less than water and muscle.

One common way of checking if you are overweight or obese is by the measurement known as the Body Mass Index (BMI) which considers both weight and height.

Body Mass Index (BMI) = weight (kg) / height squared (m²)
To work out your BMI, divide your weight in kilograms by your (height in m x height in m)

For example: if you weight 120 kg and you height is 170 cm then the calculation is
120 divided by (1.7 x 1.7) = 41.5

Below is a table to help you see what range you currently fit into*.

BMI (kg/m2) Classification

18.5 Underweight

18.5 – 24.9 Normal range

25 – 29.9 Overweight

30 – 34.9 Obesity class I

35 – 39.9 Obesity class II

>40 Obesity class III

BMI is a reliable indicator of total body fat, which is related to the risk of disease and death. It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.

*A healthy BMI for people of European descent is between 18.5 and 24.9. Asians have a different body fat distribution and therefore their healthy upper BMI limit is 23.0.
My BMI says I am 'overweight' but I am very fit. Is it an accurate measure?

The BMI measure is more valid for measuring population overweight status rather than for one individual. Because BMI assumes a constant and uniform body composition, it has some limitations. BMI is not valid in very young people or people over 75 years. It is also unreliable if you are very short, or very tall, or very fit with a high muscle mass (muscle weighs more than fat).

A healthy BMI and waist circumference can benefit your overall health. A healthy waist circumference for men of European descent is less than 94cm and for women of European descent is less than 80cm. Asians have a different body fast distribution and therefore have different suggested waist circumferences. For men of Asian descent, a healthy waist measurement is less than 90cm and for women of Asian descent, a healthy waist measurement is less than 80cm.
What do I need to do to start losing weight?

Research shows that the most important step to begin losing weight is to decrease your kilojoule (or kJ) intake. A goal is to decrease by 20 percent, however the ranges are different for different people. If this is done then you should start losing ½ kg – 1kg per week.

A helpful way to stick to your decreased kilojoule intake is to keep a kilojoule budget or 'food diary'. Try writing everything that you eat down and check how many kilojoules you are consuming per day. This may help you monitor your kilojoule intake and often avoids the temptation to spend all of your 'kilojoule budget' on one meal. Eating small, regular meals may also help. Talk to your doctor or dietitian about how may kilojoules is best for you to consume while you are trying to lose weight.

Taking part in some regular physical activity is a good way to keep the weight off.
Does it matter where I carry extra weight?

Where you carry your weight is important. Central obesity—often referred to as the 'apple shape' where fat is stored around the abdomen—is more commonly linked to serious health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes than the 'pear shape' where fat is stored around the hips and thighs.
Are there measures other than weight that I should be checking for progress?

How you are actually feeling can be a really good indicator for how you are going. If you feel fitter, less breathless, more positive and in control, these are all good signs to take note of. If your blood pressure has come down or your cholesterol level has improved then you have made steps in the right direction.

You can also measure your waist circumference and there are guidelines which you can aim for. These guidelines say that your waist should measure less than 88cm for females and less than 102 cm for males (measure your waist at the midway point between the top of your hip and just underneath your last rib). Watch how your waist circumference decreases even when your weight on the scales doesn't change very much.
My weight seems to go up and down from day to day. What causes this?

Body weight does change from day to day due to factors like the body retaining water and food in the digestive tract. For women, during their menstrual cycle the body may retain a greater amount of water and can affect weight by up to 2 kilograms.
How much weight loss should I expect over the next 6 months?

You should aim to lose approximately 5-10 percent of your body weight over the next 6 months. Actual weight loss will depend on the individual. Losing 10 percent of your body weight may substantially reduce your risk of major illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Remember when setting goals for yourself to be realistic and keep your focus on keeping the weight off not just losing it.
I am not losing weight as quickly as when I started. What can I do?

Most people reach the stage where their weight loss plateaus, but remember that on average, people actually gain 1-2 kilograms a year, so just keeping weight off is an achievement in itself. If you do want to keep losing more weight then you'll often need to increase your activity levels.
I've been eating the right foods and exercising, but I'm still not losing weight. What's happening?

It is common to plateau after a period of weight loss. If you are concerned you should discuss this with your doctor. Keeping a diary of your food, exercise and weight loss will help you monitor this more closely, however don't just look at the scales. If you have been exercising you will have built up some muscle and muscle weighs more than fat, so use a tape measure to check you body shape as well.
There are so many diets in the media and bookshops. How do I know fact from fiction?

Professional advice from a dietitian or doctor can help you choose balanced, long-term solutions and avoid the 'quick fix' diets. In general, try to avoid diets that have extremely strict rules or cut out whole food groups.

Reductil (also known as sibutramine) is a prescription-only medication that has been approved to aid in losing weight and maintaining weight-loss.

Important information about REDUCTIL. Reductil is an unfunded Prescription Medicine for the treatment of obesity in conjunction with a reduced calorie diet and exercise programme. You will have to pay for this medicine. Normal doctor's visit fees and pharmacy charges apply. Reductil contains sibutramine 10mg or 15mg. Ask your doctor if Reductil is right for you. Reductil is not suitable for use with heart disease, inadequately controlled blood pressure, psychiatric illness, people with obesity due to other causes, liver, kidney, or prostate disease, people over 65 or under 18. Possible side effects are: raised blood pressure and increased heart rate. Use strictly as directed and if you have side effects see your doctor. Other side effects include: loss of appetite, constipation, dry mouth, insomnia. These effects are generally mild and reversible. Marketed by Abbott Laboratories (NZ) Ltd, Mt Wellington. For more information visit www.medsafe.govt.nz. TAPS PP8012. RED 211-0210-1.

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More Weight Loss Information

CMI

BMI (kg/m2)	Classification
18.5	Underweight
18.5 – 24.9	Normal range
25 – 29.9	Overweight
30 – 34.9	Obesity class I
35 – 39.9	Obesity class II
>40	Obesity class III