Staying at a Healthy Weight
People who are overweight are more likely to develop high blood pressure, heart disease, and certain kinds of diabetes. Certain cancers, stroke, gallbladder disease, and arthritis of weight-bearing joints are also linked to being fat. Overweight people with hemophilia may have trouble finding a vein when they need factor.
One way to see if you are overweight is to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI). The BMI uses your height and weight to get an idea of how much fat you have. It is reliable for most people. It will tell you if you are underweight, normal, overweight, or obese.
Adults (age 20 and older) can find out their BMI using the CDC's calculator. There is a different calculator for children and teens (ages 2 through 19).