Article Figures & Data
Tables
BMI Knowledge Questions West Virginia New Jersey West Virginia and New Jersey P Value* What does BMI stand for? 60.3 58.8 59.9 .75 BMI is related to what medical concern? 50.1 49.3 49.9 .87 A BMI of 25 or greater means… 18.0 16.2 17.5 .64 A BMI of 30 or greater means… 18.5 12.8 16.8 .12 A BMI of 40 or greater means… 14.3 14.9 14.5 .88 Do you know what your BMI is? 18.7 12.2 16.8 .07 Data are percentages choosing the correct answer.
↵* χ2 Comparison of responses of body mass index (BMI) knowledge questions between patients from West Virginia and patients from New Jersey.
- Table 2. Descriptive Statistics of Body Mass Index Survey Patients' Demographic Characteristics
Characteristics West Virginia New Jersey West Virginia and New Jersey P Value* Age, years (mean ± SD) 48.9 ± 17.4 48.4 ± 17.2 48.7 ± 17.3 .77 Sex (%) Male 42.2 47.3 43.7 .29 Female 57.8 52.7 56.3 Calculated BMI based on self-reported height and weight (mean ± SD) 28.9 ± 7.1 29.5 ± 7.3 29.1 ± 7.2 .46 Weight status based on BMI calculated from self-reported height and weight (%) Underweight (BMI <18.5) 2.3 1.4 2.0 .91 Normal weight (BMI 18.5–24.9) 27.8 28.4 27.9 Overweight (BMI 25–29.9) 31.2 31.8 31.3 Obese (BMI ≥30) 38.8 38.5 38.7 Presence of comorbid conditions (%) Hypertension (self-reported) 40.1 41.9 40.6 .71 Hyperlipidemia (self-reported) 33.5 25.7 31.2 .08 Diabetes mellitus (self-reported) 13.9 15.5 14.4 .64 Sleep apnea (self-reported) 10.1 8.8 9.7 .65 Obesity (based on calculated BMI) 38.8 38.5 38.7 .95 ↵* Comparisons of demographic characteristics between patients from West Virginia and patients from New Jersey using t test for continuous variables (age and calculated body mass index [BMI]) or χ2 test for categorical variables (sex, BMI group, and presence of comorbid conditions).
SD, standard deviation.
- Table 3. Responses of Body Mass Index Knowledge Questions and Comorbid Conditions for Patients With Body Mass Index <30 versus Patients With Body Mass Index ≥30 (West Virginia and New Jersey)
BMI Knowledge Questions and Comorbid Conditions Overall (n = 511) Patients With BMI <30 (n = 307) Patients With BMI >30 (n = 194) Odds Ratio (95% CI)* P Value† Knowledge questions What does BMI stand for?‡ 59.9 60.9 59.3 0.93 (0.65–1.35) .72 BMI is related to what medical concern?‡ 49.9 50.2 50.0 0.99 (0.69–1.42) .97 A BMI of 25 or greater means…‡ 17.5 17.6 17.1 0.97 (0.60–1.56) .89 A BMI of 30 or greater means…‡ 16.8 15.6 19.1 1.27 (0.79–2.04) .32 A BMI of 40 or greater means…‡ 14.5 13.4 16.0 1.23 (0.74–2.05) .41 Do you know what your BMI is?‡ 16.8 21.4 10.4 0.43 (0.25–0.73) .002 Have you heard of BMI before this survey?§ 60.5 63.4 58.0 0.80 (0.55–1.15) .23 Has your doctor ever discussed BMI with you?§ 17.1 16.6 18.1 1.11 (0.69–1.79) .66 Comorbid conditions (%) Hypertension 40.6 31.7 55.5 2.69 (1.85–3.90) <.001 Hyperlipidemia 31.2 26.7 38.0 1.68 (1.14–2.48) .008 Diabetes mellitus 14.4 9.5 22.6 2.78 (1.67–4.64) <.001 Sleep apnea 9.7 5.3 16.4 3.49 (1.85–6.59) <.001 ↵* Odds ratio of body mass index (BMI) knowledge questions or comorbid conditions, comparing patients with a BMI ≥30.0 with patients with a BMI <30.0.
↵† χ2 Comparison of responses of BMI knowledge questions between patients with a BMI <30.0 and patients with a BMI ≥30.0.
↵‡ Percentage with the correct answer.
↵§ Percentage answering “yes.”
CI, confidence interval.
