Weight Management Advice

Body Mass Index (BMI)

If your BMI is higher than the healthy range (anything above 25, or anything above 23 if you have a south Asian background), you may be referred to a weight-management service that could help you to achieve a healthy weight, as well as looking at your diet and activity levels.

You can use the BMI healthy weight calculator to keep track of your BMI as your weight changes and to get advice on the best ways to achieve a healthy weight.

Reducing your BMI

People with a high BMI are at greater risk of a range of serious health conditions, including heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.

If you would like help with losing weight, you can download the free NHS weight loss plan and start today.

Underweight

A BMI below 18.5 indicates that you may be underweight. This could be a sign that you're not eating a healthy and balanced diet that contains enough energy for your needs. Or it may be a sign of a wide range of underlying health conditions.

NHS Eatwell Guide

Eating a balanced diet, including vegetables, fruit and grains, plus some protein and dairy, will help you reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.

The Eatwell Guide shows how much of what we eat overall should come from each food group to achieve a healthy, balanced diet.

Restricting your salt intake to no more than 6g each day can help your blood pressure readings come down. Find out more facts about salt.

When shopping for food, think about the food that you are buying and plan to stay within the recommended levels of calories, fats and salt. Learn more about how to make healthier food choices by viewing the Eatwell Guide