Background
Nearly two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight and 30.5% are obese1. As a result of its high prevalence in minorities, this is an even greater concern in underserved populations, which comprise a large percentage of the patient population at Aurora Sinai Family Care Center and St. Luke’s Family Practice. Adverse health consequences associated with obesity also make addressing this issue vital to quality patient care and education for disease prevention.
Objectives
The goals of this project are to:
- obtain insight into patient perceptions of their weight compared to their actual body mass index (BMI) and
- compare the perceptions of body weight across gender and cultural subpopulations.
Timeline
November 2006 - September 2007
Design
- Cross sectional survey
- Patients presenting for physicals, well visits, or chronic disease follow-up at two Aurora Family Medicine Residency clinics.
- N=170
Population
This study examines adult patients at two urban family medicine clinics in the City of Milwaukee.
Findings
- Potential health problems and strangers opinions are cited as reasons for weight loss.
- Stress and lack of time are related to BMI.
- Disability remains a predictor of BMI after accounting for age and gender.
Conclusions
Providers need to consider non-health related factors such as finances, unsafe neighborhoods, stress, and embarrassment when providing weight loss counseling.
Local Investigators and Staff
Aurora UW Medical Group
- Tracie K Dunek, D.O., R.D.
- Dennis Baumgardner, M.D.
- Linnea Williams, D.O.
Center for Urban Population Health
- Jennifer Evertsen, M.S.
- Shannon Simpson, M.S.
1 Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Ogden CL, et al. Prevalence and trends in obesity among US adults, 1999-2000. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2002; 228:1723-1727.
