Comparison of body perceptions between obese primary care patients and physicians: implications for practice.

Objective: To compare the body image and weight perceptions of primary care patients and their physicians as a first step toward identifying a potential tool to aid physician-patient communication.

Methods: Patients with a body mass index (BMI)> or =30 (n=456, 66% female) completed body image and weight status measures after office visits; physicians (n=29) rated the body figures and weight status of these same patients after office visits.

Results: Controlling for BMI, female patients and their physicians showed little or no difference in body figure selection or weight status classification, whereas male patients were significantly less likely than their physicians to self-identify with larger body figures (z=3.

BMI percentiles and body image discrepancy in black and white adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between body image discrepancy (BID) and weight status as measured by BMI percentiles (BMI%) among adolescents. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 265 adolescents at an urban clinic (females: 116 blacks and 63 whites; males: 62 blacks and 24 whites). BID was the difference between ideal and current body images selected from a 13-figure rating scale, and BMI% were calculated from measured weight and height.

Nicotine dependence among African American light smokers: a comparison of three scales.

Approximately 50% of African American (AA) smokers are light smokers (smoke View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Weight-related perceptions among patients and physicians: how well do physicians judge patients' motivation to lose weight?

Background: Prior studies suggest that patients and physicians have different perceptions and expectations surrounding weight; however, few studies have directly compared patients' and physicians' perspectives.

Objectives: (1) To measure the extent to which obese patients and their physicians have discrepant weight-related perceptions, and (2) to explore patient and physician characteristics that may influence patient-physician discrepancy in motivation to lose weight.

Design And Participants: Four hundred and fifty-six obese patients (302 females; mean age = 55.

Development of a culturally relevant body image instrument among urban African Americans.

Objective: To validate a culturally relevant body image instrument among urban African Americans through three distinct studies.

Research Methods And Procedures: In Study 1, 38 medical practitioners performed content validity tests on the instrument. In Study 2, three research staff rated the body image of 283 African-American public housing residents (75% women, mean age = 44 years), with the residents completing body image, BMI, and percentage body fat measures.

Gender, smoking expectancies, and readiness to quit among urban African American smokers.

The relationship between smoking expectancies and readiness to quit as well as gender differences in expectancies and readiness to quit was examined among 484 urban African American smokers. Univariate analyses revealed that higher positive expectancies were generally associated with less readiness to quit and higher negative expectancies were associated with greater readiness to quit. A multivariable model indicated that stimulation/state enhancement, taste/sensorimotor manipulation, and weight control were most strongly related to intention to quit.