Having a regular physician and attempted weight loss after screening for hypertension or hypercholesterolemia

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between having a regular physician, results of screening tests for cardiovascular risk (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia) and efforts to lose weight among obese adults. DESIGN: Analysis of a population-based telephone survey (2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System). SETTING: Four states (Iowa, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia) in the US. PARTICIPANTS: Adults (Z18 y old) who were obese (body mass index Z30 kg/m 2 ) (unweighted n ¼ 1735). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Currently attempting to lose weight; changes in diet or exercise as strategies to lose weight. RESULTS: Obese individuals with a personal physician were more likely to report attempts to lose weight in the face of screening normal for hypertension or hypercholesterolemia than those without a personal physician (75.6 vs 60.5% for hypercholesterolemia, P ¼ 0.03; 74.6 vs 57.7% for hypertension, P ¼ 0.01). In adjusted models, obese individuals screening normal for hypertension but having a personal physician were significantly more likely to attempt to lose weight than individuals without a personal physician (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.12-2.60). CONCLUSIONS: Having a regular physician is associated with a higher likelihood of attempted weight loss among obese individuals who believe that they do not have hypertension or hypercholesterolemia, than their counterparts with no regular physician. This suggests a previously unrecognized benefit of having a personal physician.

Perceived weight gain, risk, and nutrition in pregnancy in five racial groups

“…And those tailored to racial/ethnic groups neglect subgroup differences. The research of Mainous, Diaz, Koopman, and Everett (2005) indicates that behavior change is greatly related to perceived health risk. Education of pregnant women is warranted to raise awareness of the documented risks of prepregnancy weight and excessive weight gain for both mother and infant.…”

Knowledge of the health consequences of obesity among overweight/obese Black and Hispanic adults

“…Based on this model, development of tailored behavior change strategies requires an understanding of patients’ perceived risk of disease. Studies have shown an increase in the number of weight loss attempts as perceived susceptibility to chronic disease increases [5, 6]. However, the importance of risk perception in motivating weight loss behavior has been called into question given the high prevalence of overweight/obesity despite growing public health efforts aimed to increase knowledge of the health consequences of obesity [7].…”

Access to Primary Care in US Counties Is Associated with Lower Obesity Rates

“…29,30 Prior studies have shown that obese patients with a usual source of care were more likely to be attempting weight loss. 17 We also controlled for contextual variables obtained from the area resource file, including "percentage black," defined as the proportion of a county population that was black, and "percentage poverty," defined as the proportion of the county population living below the poverty level. 31 We accounted for county-wide poverty based on evidence that shows that individuals who move out of a neighborhood with a high level of poverty to a neighborhood with a low level of poverty have a reduced BMI.…”

“…However, previous studies support the favorable impact primary care physicians have on obesity. An analysis of the 2002 Behavioral Risk factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) by Mainous et al 17 found that obese patients with a usual source of care were more likely to be attempting weight loss than those without a usual provider. Primary care physicians (PCPs) are more likely to practice prevention-related counseling than specialists.…”