Pear or apple body shape indicates where fat accumulates in an individual.
Apple.
“ Apple” individuals gain weight mostly in the waist line. Fatty tissue builds up around the waist and chest and the individual is at risk of diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension) and coronary heart disease.
Pear.
Individuals who are “pear” carry extra weight below the waist line and have damaging effect on the skeleton . This a f f e c t s joi nts especially knees, ankles, legs and back.However , they do not have as high a risk of developing metabolic disease.
Apple-body shape
Pear-body shape
HOW TO DETERMINE A HEALTHY WEIGHT.
T o maintain a healthy state and well-being one must maintain a healthy weight for his/her age, height and gender . There are standard body weights considered normal for each age and sex. Thus, to maintain good health there must be a balance between body weight and height.
This can be done by using methods accepted by international health
organisations.
BMI = weight in kg /(height in m)²
Example; Weight = 84 kg,
Height = 1.75 m
BMI = 84/(1.75 x 1.75)
approx. 27kg/m²
Interpretation
1. below 18.5 Underweight
2. 18.5 – 24.5 Healthy
3. 25 – 29.9 Overweight
4. 30 and over are Obese
The Demographic and Health Surveys (GDHS 2008) in Ghana show an increase of overweight or obesity from 12.7% to 25.3% in non-pregnant women aged 15-49 years.
