MANY of us will have “losing” weight near the top of our New Years resolution list.
But shedding the pounds you’ve put on over the festive period can be harder than it looks.
The NHS calculator checks BMI and provides a weight loss plan
A weight loss calculator, devised by the NHS can help lose the weight effectively.
Firstly, the test will calculate your body mass index (BMI) to find out if you are a healthy weight.
Measurements may also reveal that you are clinically classed as underweight, overweight or obese.
Many medical professionals believe that having a BMI that’s too high or low can increase your risk of health problems, including heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.
The tool evaluates your age, gender, height and weight, before estimating your BMI.
If the test deems you overweight, it will give you a personal calorie allowance to stick to daily so you are in a slight calorie deficit.
A calorie deficit simply means you’re eating fewer calories than you’re burning.
It should help achieve a healthy weight safely.
While the body mass index is regularly used to establish whether or not patients are an unhealthy size, there are limitations to the rule.
The indicator doesn’t take the weight of bones or muscle into consideration.
This means that muscular adults or athletes may be classed as overweight, despite not having much body fat.
The NHS states: “Adults who lose muscle as they get older may fall in the ‘healthy weight’ range even though they may be carrying excess fat.”
Obesity levels in the UK have more than trebled in the last 30 years and, on current estimates, more than half the population could be obese by 2050, according to the NHS.