Correlates of overweight and weight-loss practices in Missouri.
OBJECTIVE
To examine potential correlates of overweight and weight-loss practices in Missouri.


METHODS
Two probability surveys (n=3,010) were used to investigate the associations of sociodemographic and health-related factors with overweight and attempting, exercising, dieting, and desiring to lose weight.


RESULTS
Race, gender, and receiving professional advice were strongly associated with being overweight. Gender, receiving professional advice, and leisure-time physical activity were positively associated with attempting and desiring to lose weight.


CONCLUSIONS
Public health programs can utilize this knowledge to reduce the prevalence of overweight by encouraging professional advice and promoting regular exercise.
Kabeer
N H
NH
Prevention Research Center, Saint Louis University, School of Public Health, MO, USA. KabeeN@mail.health.state.mo.us
Simoes
E J
EJ
Murayi
T
T
Brownson
R C
RC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008923:Missouri / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D015431:Weight Loss; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*