Lifestyle Factors and Body Weight Management
Your daily choices massively influence your NCD risk. Key lifestyle factors include lack of exercise, stress, too much sun exposure, poor diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Environmental pollutants like asbestos and ionising radiation also play a role.
Obesity puts you at serious risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes. The Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator helps track if your weight falls within healthy ranges using the formula: BMI = mass (kg) ÷ (height in metres)².
However, BMI isn't perfect - it can't distinguish between muscle, fat, and bone. Muscular athletes might appear "overweight" despite having low body fat. That's why the waist-to-hip ratio provides additional insight into health risks.
Being underweight through malnutrition creates different problems: weakened immunity, fragile bones, fertility issues, and chronic fatigue. Heart disease remains one of the most serious outcomes, sometimes requiring heart transplants when conventional treatments fail.
Remember: Most NCDs are preventable through smart lifestyle choices - you've got more control than you might think!