title: Patient Understanding of Body Mass Index (BMI) in Primary Care Practices: A Two-State Practice-based Research (PBR) Collaboration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The concept of body mass index (BMI) may not be well understood by patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients' knowledge of BMI in the primary care setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult patients seen in 18 practices in West Virginia and New Jersey were invited to complete a voluntary survey. The survey assessed the patient's baseline knowledge of BMI as well as demographic information and whether the patient had known chronic conditions associated with increased BMI, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and sleep apnea.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While the majority (59.9%) of primary care patients knew the meaning of BMI and that it is related to obesity, there was little knowledge of BMI cutoff values; more than 80% of responses were incorrect when asked to define specific BMI levels and their meaning. Self-awareness of obesity was limited as well, with only 16.4% aware of their own personal BMI. Furthermore, nearly 70% of patients could not recall having discussed BMI with their physician.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings indicate low comprehension of the term BMI. Increasing awareness of BMI may help patients address this key risk factor and significantly affect public health.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Family Medicine, Virtua Health, Voorhees, NJ (REP, MM); and Department of Family Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown (TH, AB, GD, JX, DEK). rpost@virtua.org.
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Post
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Family Medicine, Virtua Health, Voorhees, NJ (REP, MM); and Department of Family Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown (TH, AB, GD, JX, DEK).
authors.forename: Megha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mendiratta
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Family Medicine, Virtua Health, Voorhees, NJ (REP, MM); and Department of Family Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown (TH, AB, GD, JX, DEK).
authors.forename: Treah
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haggerty
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Family Medicine, Virtua Health, Voorhees, NJ (REP, MM); and Department of Family Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown (TH, AB, GD, JX, DEK).
authors.forename: Alexia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bozek
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Family Medicine, Virtua Health, Voorhees, NJ (REP, MM); and Department of Family Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown (TH, AB, GD, JX, DEK).
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Family Medicine, Virtua Health, Voorhees, NJ (REP, MM); and Department of Family Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown (TH, AB, GD, JX, DEK).
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Family Medicine, Virtua Health, Voorhees, NJ (REP, MM); and Department of Family Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown (TH, AB, GD, JX, DEK).
authors.forename: Dana E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009515:New Jersey; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care; D057566:Self Report; D014903:West Virginia
keywords: Obesity; Physician–Patient Relations