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

International Journal of Obesity volume 29, pages 223–227 (2005)Cite this article

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 (≥18 y old) who were obese (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2) (unweighted n=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=0.03; 74.6 vs 57.7% for hypertension, P=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.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded in part through Grants 1 D14 HP 00161-02 and 1D12HP00023-03 from the Health Resources and Services Administration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

    A G Mainous III, V A Diaz, R J Koopman & C J Everett

Authors
  1. A G Mainous III
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  2. V A Diaz
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  3. R J Koopman
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  4. C J Everett
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Correspondence to A G Mainous III.

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Mainous, A., Diaz, V., Koopman, R. et al. Having a regular physician and attempted weight loss after screening for hypertension or hypercholesterolemia. Int J Obes 29, 223–227 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802863

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802863

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