Health

Maintaining a healthy weight

Maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of health issues and injuries.

Maintaining a healthy weight can be challenging, particularly for those working in the coal industry. In NSW, 87% of coal mine workers are currently overweight (40%) or obese (47%).  

Maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, sleep apnoea, diabetes, some cancers, and the decreases the likelihood of developing musculoskeletal injuries. 

The two measures used to check whether you have a healthy weight are: Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference. Your weight, BMI and waist circumference will be measured and discussed with you at your Order 43 health assessment.  

BMI 

Your BMI shows whether you are in your healthy weight range for your height. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of health issues and injuries.    

  • BMI between 18.5 and 25kg/m2: healthy weight range 
  • BMI between 25 and30kg/m2: overweight range 
  • BMI 30kg/m2 or more: obese 

Click here to calculate your own BMI  

Waist circumference

Waist circumference measurements show if you’re carrying too much fat around your middle. Having a high waist circumference increases your risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. A healthy waist circumference is under 94cm for men and under 80cm for women. 

How to maintain a healthy weight

Weight gain occurs when you consume more calories than your body uses, with the excess stored as fat.
The most common causes of weight gain are:  

  • an unhealthy diet, particularly too many high-calorie, sugary or fatty foods and  
  • not getting enough physical activity. 

For more information and tips on how to maintain a healthy weight, see CS Health’s fact sheet and links to healthy eating and physical activity pages below.

Maintaining a healthy weight
Health
PDF (354 KB)

Learn more

Healthy eating

Physical activity

Programs and services

The Healthy Weight Initiative 

CS Health’s personalised, 12-session, healthy lifestyle program can help you to set and achieve healthy eating goals, lose weight and improve your health. Both face-to-face and online telehealth appointments are available. Learn more. 

Toolbox talks 

CS Health can provide onsite workplace education on healthy eating Learn more.