Is it already overweight? Check with this simple test if you are too fat

The ratio of waist to height is crucial

With a piece of string and a pair of scissors you can determine if you are overweight in two quick and easy steps. Here, the ratio of waist to height is crucial and provides more meaningful information than the usual BMI value. Because around the waist is the so-called visceral body fat. This fat, which is stored in the abdominal cavity, is more harmful to health than other body fat because it lays around organs like the pancreas and the liver.

Obesity is a term for a person who is very overweight and has a lot of body fat. Obesity is becoming an increasing health problem in western industrialized countries. The NHS states that about one in four adults and one in five children in England are already overweight. Obesity can lead to serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

The ratio of height to waist circumference is a crucial indicator of whether you are exposed to certain health risks. (Image: Kurhan / fotolia.com)

The BMI is not meaningful enough

Often, the so-called body mass index (BMI) is used to assess whether a person is overweight or not. If this value is over 24.9, one is considered overweight, with a value over 29.9 one speaks of obesity. However, some experts doubt the validity of this calculation because it is too inaccurate and too generalized. For example, according to this calculation, many bodybuilders with very little body fat would be considered obese.

Experts clarify

The British broadcaster BBC is currently clarifying this increasing problem in society with the series "The Truth About Obesity" and wants to help people lose weight. Nutrition expert Dr. Margaret Ashwell showed a quick and easy test that is more meaningful than BMI. All that is needed is a piece of string and a pair of scissors.

The string test

The String Test for Obesity is a quick and easy way to find out if you are overweight. According to Dr. Ashwell, this test works like this:

1. Cut a piece of string to the length of its body size.
2. Fold this piece in the middle.
3. Lay the folded cord around the belly.
4. If the two ends of the string do not meet, their visceral fat content is too high.

About visceral fat

The belly fat is not only in overweight person. Even normal-weight people can develop an unhealthy belly fat percentage. A colloquially designated "Plautze" carry many German men around with him. Much belly fat is an indication of major health risks. A recent study has shown that this fat has a particularly negative effect on the heart, regardless of how obese you are.

The fat surrounds important organs

Because visceral fat is unhealthier than other body fat, it is because it involves organs such as the pancreas and liver, increasing the risk of serious illnesses such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease and 11 types of cancer. According to Dr. Ashwell, measuring the ratio of height to waist, can provide a good indication of the amount of visceral fat.

The good news

The nutritional expert still has a positive message for those who have too much visceral fat: "The good news is that visceral fat disappears first," says Ashwell on the show. If you lose only five percent of your body weight, your unhealthy belly fat drops drastically.

Simple and effective measures against belly fat

Granted, it's easier said than done, but still very effective: eat less and move more. If you want to reduce belly fat, these best 25 methods will help. (Vb)