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Weight management

Being overweight increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. Patients who are underweight are at greater risk of osteoporosis and fertility problems.

Guidelines

  • Energy used should equal your energy consumed.
  • Women should aim for around 2000 calories a day and a waist to hip ratio of less than 0.85.
  • Men should aim for 2500 calories a day and a waist to hip ratio of less than 1.
  • Have a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 to 24.9.

Non-urgent advice: To calculate body mass index (BMI):

Divide weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared or use the NHS body mass index calculator.

Non-urgent advice: To calculate waist to hip ratio:

Divide the circumference of the narrowest point of the waist by the widest point of the hips and buttocks.

Page last reviewed: October 06, 2025
Next review due: October 06, 2026

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