Obesity is defined clinically as a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30. BMI is a screening measure of body fat and obesity in adults 20 years and older. As BMI increases risks for certain diseases increase along with it. These diseases include coronary artery or heart disease, certain types of cancer, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol etc.

What is IBW? Ideal body weight (IBW) is the suggested weight range for your height, gender, and age. This weight range should be associated with the lowest risk of you developing and dying from a disease related to overweightness and obesity.

What is body fat percentage? Body fat percentage is the portion of your body that is composed of fat, or that portion that is not lean body mass. The purpose of body fat, also known as adipose tissue, is to serve as a storage form of energy for the body and protection for vital organs.

What is lean body mass? Lean body mass (LBM) is a calculation of the amount of weight you carry on your body that is not fat. It is the combined weight of your muscles, bones, connective tissues, and organs. Typically 60 to 90% of your total body weight is lean body mass, meaning a total of 10 to 40% of total body mass is fat. Lean body mass does include some fat, about 3% in men and 13% in women, which is found around the brain, spinal cord, bone marrow, and organs. This fat is known as essential fat and is higher in women due to sexual characteristics related to child bearing.

Basal metabolic rate is the number of calories that you need each day to stay alive. In other words it is a calculation of the number of calories required to keep the body functioning at rest. Depending on your activity level you will need additional calories daily to maintain bodily functions. BMR affects the rate that calories are burned and whether you maintain, lose, or gain weight.