Better Weight Assessment

Your health is often directly proportionate to your weight. But can a scale tell your whole story? Perhaps a better indicator of your well-being is determining your body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat based on height and weight. To calculate your BMI, visit www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm. Sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the site also recommends measuring waist circumference and risk factors for diseases and conditions associated with obesity, such as high blood pressure and physical inactivity. Also available are suggestions for weight control.

A recent issue of Andrew Weil’s Self Healing mentions several complementary approaches for weight loss, including massage therapy. Weil suggests that like acupuncture, bodywork won’t trim the waistline, but it can be effective for joint or muscle pain that may discourage overweight people from exercising.