Measure Your Progress: FAQs
General FAQs | Body Mass Index | Belly Fat / Waist Measurement
Blood Pressure | Cholesterol | Blood Glucose / Diabetes
General FAQs
Why is it important to “Measure Your Progress?”
Whether you are trying to maintain, gain, or lose weight, setting realistic goals and keeping track of your progress can be the key to success. Along with the suggested measures look for indicators of success and make sure to acknowledge those as well. These include changes in health-related behavior patterns such as:
- A decreased reliance on medications
- Increased ability to perform physical activity
- A reduced intake of fat and/or carbohydrates
- Increased intake of dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals (mostly from increased fruit and vegetable consumption) in your diet
When you feel good about yourself and acknowledge the changes you're making along the way, you're more likely to keep moving forward positively on your path.
How does overweight or obesity affect my health?
Extra weight can put you at a higher risk for many health problems including:
- Type 2 diabetes (high blood sugar)
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease and stroke
- Some types of cancer
- Osteoarthritis (wearing away of the joints)
| - Sleep apnea (when breathing stops for short periods during sleep)
- Gallbladder disease
- Liver disease
- Irregular menstrual periods
|
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Body Mass Index
How come BMI is interpreted differently for children than adults?
BMI is calculated the same way for both adults and children. The calculation is based on mathematical formulas. For adults 20 years old and older, BMI is interpreted using standard weight status categories that are the same for all ages and for both men and women. For children and teens, the interpretation of BMI is both age- and sex-specific for two reasons:
- The amount of body fat changes with age.
- The amount of body fat differs between girls and boys.
The CDC BMI-for-age growth charts take into account these differences and allow translation of a BMI number into a percentile for a child’s sex and age. For more information about interpretation for children and teens, visit Child and Teen BMI Calculator.
What should I do if my BMI is too high?
If your BMI is between 25 and 30 and you are otherwise healthy, try to avoid gaining more weight, and look into healthy ways to lose weight and increase physical activity. Talk to your health care provider about losing weight if
- Your BMI is 30 or above, or
- Your BMI is between 25 and 30 and you have:
- Two or more of the health problems listed above or
- A family history of heart disease or diabetes
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Belly Fat/ Waist Measurement
Is my waist measurement the same thing as my belt size?
It could be—but many men gradually let their belt move down below their hip bone. They’ve grown into a classic apple shape but their belt size hasn’t changed much! The tape measure needs to go around your bare abdomen just above your hip bone. Be sure that the tape is snug (but does not compress your skin) and that it is parallel to the floor. Relax, exhale, and measure your waist.
What should I do if my waist measures over 35 inches (women)/40 inches (men)?
If your waist measures over 35 inches (women) or 40 inches (men) and your BMI is greater than or equal to 25 you should consider speaking with your health care provider about losing weight. Following the “eat well live well” principles would be a good place to start!
My BMI is normal but my waist measurement is high, should I still speak with my health care provider?
If your BMI is within a normal range but your waist measures greater than 35 inches (women) or 40 inches (men) your physician will want to check your other heart disease risk factors. Chances are you’ll be encouraged to get more physical activity—and perhaps lose a few pounds.
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High Blood Pressure
What does high blood pressure do to your body?
High blood pressure can cause life-threatening illnesses like kidney problems, stroke, heart failure, blindness, and heart attacks. It is often called the silent killer because many people have it without knowing it and it is estimated that it affects nearly 65 million people in the United States alone.
Who is at risk?
Anyone can have high blood pressure but some people may be more likely to have it including:
- African Americans
- People over age 55
- People with a family history of high blood pressure
In addition, your chances of having high blood pressure increase if you:
- Are overweight
- Do not get regular exercise
- Eat foods high in salt
- Drink alcohol heavily
How is high blood pressure treated?
There are medicines people can take every day to control high blood pressure. Only your doctor can say if you need medications right away. The first prescription might be lifestyle change!
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Cholesterol
What causes high cholesterol?
High cholesterol may be the result of a family history and/or from a diet high in saturated fats and low in fruits, vegetables and beans. For many it is because of a combination of diet and heredity. For most of us, the cholesterol in food has relatively little to do with the cholesterol levels in the blood.
I want to avoid medication. What treatment is recommended?
The preferred treatment is to adopt a lifestyle that will help lower your levels, one including exercise and a diet that is low in saturated fats, and trans fat. However, for some, dietary and lifestyle changes are not enough and medication must be considered. Speak with your health care provider if you are concerned.
My doctor told me I had a high cholesterol test but instead of treating me he told me to wait a few months and test it again. Why?
Cholesterol levels fluctuate over time. A single measurement of cholesterol may not always reflect the "usual” cholesterol level. For this reason, it is advisable to have at least two different measurements several weeks to several months apart before beginning any kind of treatment. Treatment is based on the average value.
What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?
High cholesterol is silent—the first symptom could be a heart attack. The only way to know if you have high cholesterol is to have a simple blood test.
Is it enough to know my total cholesterol number?
It gets tricky. We use the total cholesterol test for starters. If it’s low there’s no need to go further unless you have other risks for heart disease. But if your total cholesterol is even modestly elevated then your doctor will probably want you to come in for a fasting lipoprotein profile. This shows the proportion of different types of cholesterol in the blood. The two key types are: HDL (Healthy) cholesterol and LDL (Lousy) cholesterol. Having more HDL cholesterol helps keep LDL cholesterol from building up in the walls of your arteries and causing blockage. So, if your total cholesterol is elevated because your HDL is high your doctor would say “good for you!” This is another reason why we would never consider a single total cholesterol test to be a diagnosis.
How often should I have my cholesterol checked?
Healthy adults who are aged 20 years or older should have a fasting lipoprotein profile done once every 5 years.
What kinds of problems are caused by high cholesterol?
High cholesterol causes atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), which can lead to blocked blood vessels that feed the heart, eventually leading to chest pain or a heart attack. Other serious problems, such as blocked arteries to the brain, causing stroke and blocked arteries in the legs, causing pain, limping, and possibly even limb loss, are possible.
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Blood Glucose/Diabetes
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes means that your blood glucose (sugar) is too high. Your blood always has some glucose in it because the body uses glucose for energy; it's the fuel that keeps you going. But too much glucose in the blood will damage your blood vessels and everything else from head to toe!
Learn more
What is Pre-Diabetes?
Pre-diabetes is when blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to diagnosis diabetes. Unless they change their lifestyle, people with pre-diabetes usually go on to develop full blown diabetes within a few years.
How does the fasting blood glucose test define diabetes and pre-diabetes?
Normal fasting blood glucose is below 100 mg/dl. A person with pre-diabetes has a fasting blood glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl. If the fasting blood glucose level rises to 126 mg/dl or above, a person most likely has diabetes.
Why do I need to know if I have pre-diabetes?
If you have pre-diabetes, you can and should do something about it. Studies have shown that people with pre-diabetes can prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes by up to 58 percent through changes to their lifestyle that include modest weight loss and regular exercise. For some people with pre-diabetes, intervening early can actually turn back the clock and return elevated blood glucose levels to the normal range.
Am I at risk for Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form (over 90% of all people with diabetes). Here’s what puts you at risk:
- Age—being older than 45
- Overweight or obesity
- Family history—having a mother, father, brother, or sister with diabetes
- Race/ethnicity—your family background is African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic American/Latino, Asian American/Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian
- Having a baby with a birth weight more than 9 pounds
- Having diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
- High blood pressure—140/90 mmHg or higher. Both numbers are important. If one or both numbers are usually high, you have high blood pressure.
- High cholesterol—total cholesterol over 240 mg/dL
- Inactivity—exercising less than 3 times a week
- Abnormal results in a prior diabetes test
- Having other health conditions that are linked to problems using insulin, like Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
- Having a history of heart disease or stroke
What are the signs of diabetes?
- Being very thirsty
- Urinating a lot
- Feeling very hungry
- Feeling very tired
- Losing weight without trying
- Having sores that are slow to heal
- Having dry, itchy skin
- Losing feeling in or having tingling in the hands or feet
- Having blurry vision
- Having more infections than usual
If you routinely have one or more of these signs, see your doctor.
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