title: Who is counseled to lose weight? Survey results and anthropometric data from 3,149 lower socioeconomic women.
abstract: Because obesity is a grave public health concern, this study examined the percentage of disadvantaged women who recalled ever having received weight loss advice from a healthcare provider and factors associated with such advice. This study was part of a 5-clinic, cervical cancer prevention trial. Patients not immediately post-partum completed a Spanish/English survey; height and weight were also obtained. Of the 3,149 respondents (response rate 83%), 2,138 (68%) were overweight or obese (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25); 94% reported a household income of <$35,000/year; 69% were Hispanic; 10% non-Hispanic black; and 40% completed the survey in Spanish. Only one-third reported ever having been told to lose weight. Based on BMI, these rates were 15% in the 25-29.9 range (overweight); 34% within 30-34.9; 57% within 35-39.9; and 73% ≥ 40. In univariate analyses, among overweight women, diabetes or English-speaking was associated with weight loss advice. In multivariate analyses, being older, more educated, and diabetic were associated with such advice. 48% of non-Hispanic whites, 31% of non-Hispanic blacks, and 29% of Hispanic had a home scale. Among disadvantaged women, obesity alone does not determine who recalls weight loss advice. Language barriers and lack of a home scale merit further study to address obesity.
authors: Division of Health Care Policy and Research, Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors: Carmen Radecki
authors: CR
authors: Breitkopf
authors: Jason S
authors: JS
authors: Egginton
authors: James M
authors: JM
authors: Naessens
authors: Victor M
authors: VM
authors: Montori
authors: Aminah
authors: A
authors: Jatoi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D037001:Directive Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult