Benedicta Kessewah Addo, from the Institute of Clinical Genetics at the Korle Bu teaching hospital, says most people are trying to lose weight because of societal pressures.
According to her, being healthy goes beyond losing weight. She explained further, saying a healthy weight is calculated using the BMI (Body Mass Index), which is your weight divided by height, multiplied by 2.
She said the BMI has ranges and anyone who falls between 18.5-24.9 is termed healthy. Anyone above 24.9-29.9 is termed overweight and above 30 is termed Obese.
“For everybody’s height, there is a particular weight you should have. Weight loss is not for everyone. If you are within the healthy BMI, you don’t need to lose weight.” She disclosed.
However, if a person is overweight, he or she has to put in an effort to lose weight because obesity has been found to be one of the main causes of non-communicable diseases including hypertension, diabetes, and stroke, she stated.
Benedicta Kessewah Addo made this known on the GTV Breakfast Show in an interview with Thelma Tackie, a host of the GBC Morning Show, who said she had read that a lot of Ghanaians going by the BMI are found to be obese. And asked Benedicta Kessewah Addo, if that was a challenge, and how serious it could be?
Madam Benedicta responded, saying when it comes to the clinical setting, it is not just the BMI that is used to determine a healthy weight but other assessments like the waist circumference.
“Someone can have a healthy BMI, but then has a lot of fat around the circumference and that also increases your risk of diseases, so we will do the assessment and see whether you have to lose weight or put in some lifestyle modification.”Madam Benedicta was also asked if taking pills and supplements helps in losing weight. She answered by saying weight loss requires consistency, therefore pills and supplements are not the ideal solution.
She urged people who want to lose weight to cut down food portions and add a lot of vegetables and fruits to their diet.
