How Is Obesity Measured?

We can measure obesity ourselves by calculating the Body Mass Index (BMI) with the formula given by the Indonesian Nutritionists Association (PERSAGI) in the 13 Basic Messages of Balanced Nutrition (1994), namely: BMI is bodyweight (in kg) divided by the square of the body height (in m2).

BMI = Bodyweight (kg)/the square of the Body Height (m2). The normal range of BMI for Asia-Pacific regions (The Asia Pacific Perspective, Redefining Obesity and HS Treatment, 2000) is 18.5-22.9 kg/m². Any value greater than that is categorized into high-risk group. If the BMI is 23-24.8 kg/m2, it is categorized as overweight. If the BMI is greater than 25 kg/m², it is categorized as obese.

Your BMI category according to the version of Klinik Konsultasi Gizi & Klub Diet GMSK of IPB, Bogor is:

- Less than 17.0 = Severely underweight

- 17.0 - 18.5 = Mildly underweight

- 18.5 - 25.0 = Normal

- 25.0 - 27 = Mildly overweight

- More than 27.0 = Severely obese

The problem is, the BMI measurement does not reflect the distribution of fat deposit in the body. The parameter used to assess the harmful abdominal fat deposit is the Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR) or the more practical one, the abdominal circumference (AC). To measure abdominal circumference, use a meter band, and then circle it around the abdomen, two fingers below the navel. An Indonesian man with abdominal circumference more than 90 cm (102 cm for Westerner) and an Indonesian woman with more than 80 cm (88 cm for Westerner) are known as having central obesity, let alone those with more than 25 BMI.

In addition, the laboratory tests for the obese patients are: (1) Fasting glucose to detect the diabetes mellitus (DM) risk or impaired glucose tolerance, (2) total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, direct LDL cholesterol, and ApoB to find out the lipid metabolism disorder,(3) blood pressure, and (4) uric acid.