Being overweight isn't just a cosmetic problem, it can be a serious health hazard, increasing your risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. The degree of risk not only depends on the amount of excess weight you are carrying, but where this weight has been stored.
Men tend to store excess fat around their stomach, developing an apple shape (or beer-belly as we affectionately know it!) Typically, women are more likely to develop a 'pear' shape, storing fat around the hips, butt and thighs, although some groups of women are more prone to the apple shape, particularly African-Caribbean and Asian women, and women during or after the menopause.
There are health implications for both apple and pear-shaped people, but carrying your fat around your stomach carries a significantly greater health risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Please note: If you are under 16 years old, or if you are a mom-to-be, the BMI calculator and chart are not suitable to assess your weight range.
your shape
To find out whether you're an apple or pear shape simply measure your waist and use our calculator below. To measure your waist place the tape horizontally around the stomach mid way between the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips (usually in line with your naval!). Ensure that the tape is snug and not twisted, and does not compress the skin. Breathe out as normal, and take the measurement. (Men – don't rely on your trouser size – the tape measure must go over your stomach!)
To find out what your waist circumference indicates, fill in the boxes below and press calculate.