Study: Know your numbers, especially your weight

As a nurse, we tell everyone you should know your health numbers.

This means things like your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, waist size and weight.

Now, a new study shows your weight may be the most important number.

Researchers in England say you could be at risk for a heart attack or stroke if you are overweight or underweight, regardless of whether your other numbers are within the right range.

They followed more than 3-million adults over five years and found more heart problems happened in people overweight or underweight with no other risk factors than those of normal weight.

Of course, adding in other risk factors like high blood pressure further increased the risk.

There used to be a notion that you could be "healthy overweight."

But this study and others before it are disproving that theory.

But again, everyone should know your numbers and work to get them in the healthy range.

----------

Send a breaking news alert
Report a correction or typo
Learn more about the 6abc apps