Because measuring a person's body fat is tricky, doctors often rely on other means to diagnose obesity. While both measurements have their limitations, they are reliable indicators that someone may have a weight problem. They are easy to calculate and require no special equipment. Doctors have used these tables for decades to determine whether a person is overweight. The tables usually have a range of acceptable weights for a person of a given height.
Many versions are available, all with different weight ranges.
A very muscular person may appear obese, according to the tables, when he or she is not. However, it is the measurement of choice for many physicians and researchers studying obesity. BMI uses a mathematical formula that takes into account both a person's height and weight. BMI equals a person's weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. You can figure out your BMI with our BMI calculator .