When it comes to weight, beliefs die hard. For example, we often tend to say that we must weigh 10 kilos less than our height or 55 kilos if we are 1m65 tall. If this calculation is attractive by its simplicity, is it actually real? “Noresponds without hesitation Laurence Murillo, dietitian-nutritionist in Bayonne. I don’t know where this misconception comes from but it has been around for a long time and people are convinced that this statement is scientifically supported.“However, it cannot be applied because it would amount to saying that all women who are 1m65 tall should weigh 55 kilos, no more, no less; that all women who are 1m70, 60 kilos, etc.
It is not possible to determine someone’s healthy weight by calculation. “We can get an idea of our equilibrium weight when, with small variations, the weight spontaneously returns to the same range. But this set-point does not necessarily correspond to the desired weight or the recommended weight from the point of view of health and life expectancy. This weight depends on the genetics of the individual, their history and their lifestyle (level of physical activity, etc.)“, explains our interlocutor.
To assess your “healthy” weight, the most relevant indicator would be the BMI (body mass index), the calculation of which is: BMI = Weight (kg) / Height2 (m). In adults under 60, a normal BMI is between 18.5 and 25.”To return to our example, a person of 1m65 therefore has a normal build if they weigh between 50.4 kg and 68 kg” illustrates the dietitian. The BMI is an interesting benchmark indicator, but it remains limited in the sense that it does not take into account the muscle/fat ratio. We always cite the example of high-level athletes who have a mass muscle greater than normal, which increases the BMI, without revealing excess weight.
“In the event of overweight, it is especially necessary for a doctor to check whether the person has a heavy bone structure, significant muscle mass or whether it is an excess of fat mass and in this case, what is its location. . The cardiovascular and metabolic risk being greater when the fat mass is located in the stomach” recalls our expert. In France, health authorities estimate that cardiovascular risk is increased when you have a waist circumference greater than or equal to 88 cm for women and 102 cm for men.