An individual's medical history, including a review of health-risk factors, should be taken into account when attempting to define ideal body weight. For example, if an individual's blood pressure is elevated, a modest weight reduction could be quite beneficial. Extra body mass causes the heart to work harder to pump blood through the miles of extra capillaries that are required to "feed" extra tissue. Type II diabetes and blood lipid-lipoprotein profiles can also be positively affected by weight loss.

Body weight, like most other physical characteristics, is strongly influenced by genetic factors. If an individual's parents and siblings are extremely overweight, it is highly unlikely that they will ever be "model-thin." As unfair as such a limitation might appear, it should be kept in mind when establishing ideal body-weight goals.

Individuals with greater upper-body fat are highly prone to risk factors for coronary heart disease -- high blood pressure, type II (non-insulin dependent) diabetes, elevated levels of triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia) and low levels of high-density lipoproteins ("good cholesterol") in the blood. If individuals possess a high amount of upper-body fat, they should consider losing body fat through a combined program of sensible eating and exercise.

If current body weight inhibits a person's ability to effectively and efficiently perform daily activities or to comfortably engage in recreational pursuits, that person is not at an ideal weight.

Nutrition and exercise science principles mandate that individuals should avoid setting "hard and fast" body-weight goals. Rather, individuals should strive for achieving a body weight compatible with a healthful lifestyle. The body weight that results from adapting such a lifestyle should ultimately be considered the ideal union between an individual's wellness level, genetic potential and reality.

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