You can check whether you’re a healthy weight and shape, or if your size is likely to affect your heart health, by working out your Body Mass Index (BMI) and measuring your waist.

Body Mass Index

Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is based on your height and weight. You can work it out by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres, squared.

BMI = weight/height2

So, if you’re 1.75 metres tall and weigh 73 kg, your BMI is 73/1.752, or 23.84. That’s in the healthy range.

Waist measurement

Your waist circumference is thought to be an even better measure of heart health than your BMI. It all depends on whether you're an apple or a pear! If you’ve got excess weight around your middle, you’re apple-shaped and if you carry weight on your hips you’re a pear.

Studies have shown that ‘apples’ could face greater heart health risks than ‘pears’ – so if that’s you, it's even more important to lose weight for your heart health.

You can find out whether you’re an apple or a pear by measuring your waist size. Just find the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips, and measure round your middle at a point half way between them (for many people this will be over their tummy button).