Body Mass Index in Clinic Attenders: Patient Self-Perception versus Actual Measurements
Objectives. The objectives of the study were to measure actual BMI in patients attending chronic disease clinics in health centres and to relate this to the patients’ own perceptions of their body image and the need to lose weight. Study Design. A cross sectional study. Methods. The actual BMIs in p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2014-01-01
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| Series: | Advances in Public Health |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/160206 |
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| author | S. Pooransingh K. Ramgulam I. Dialsingh |
| author_facet | S. Pooransingh K. Ramgulam I. Dialsingh |
| author_sort | S. Pooransingh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives. The objectives of the study were to measure actual BMI in patients attending chronic disease clinics in health centres and to relate this to the patients’ own perceptions of their body image and the need to lose weight. Study Design. A cross sectional study. Methods. The actual BMIs in patients who attended chronic disease clinics in 14 health centres were measured. All participants were asked to state where they thought they were on a visual body image scale and were also asked if they thought they needed to lose weight. Results. All participants approached agreed to participate (RR 100%). 70% of patients were found to have a raised BMI. Approximately 73% of patients using the visual scale indicated that an overweight or obese BMI was ideal for them. Conclusions. Patients think they are thinner than they actually are, with obvious implications for health and health seeking behaviour. A whole of society approach is needed to change weight status perceptions and improve exercise and dietary behaviour. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d3e43d697e514f4c9b3d3e96af2ad27c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2356-6868 2314-7784 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advances in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-d3e43d697e514f4c9b3d3e96af2ad27c2025-08-20T02:19:45ZengWileyAdvances in Public Health2356-68682314-77842014-01-01201410.1155/2014/160206160206Body Mass Index in Clinic Attenders: Patient Self-Perception versus Actual MeasurementsS. Pooransingh0K. Ramgulam1I. Dialsingh2Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and TobagoSouth West Regional Health Authority, San Fernando, Trinidad and TobagoDepartment of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and TobagoObjectives. The objectives of the study were to measure actual BMI in patients attending chronic disease clinics in health centres and to relate this to the patients’ own perceptions of their body image and the need to lose weight. Study Design. A cross sectional study. Methods. The actual BMIs in patients who attended chronic disease clinics in 14 health centres were measured. All participants were asked to state where they thought they were on a visual body image scale and were also asked if they thought they needed to lose weight. Results. All participants approached agreed to participate (RR 100%). 70% of patients were found to have a raised BMI. Approximately 73% of patients using the visual scale indicated that an overweight or obese BMI was ideal for them. Conclusions. Patients think they are thinner than they actually are, with obvious implications for health and health seeking behaviour. A whole of society approach is needed to change weight status perceptions and improve exercise and dietary behaviour.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/160206 |
| spellingShingle | S. Pooransingh K. Ramgulam I. Dialsingh Body Mass Index in Clinic Attenders: Patient Self-Perception versus Actual Measurements Advances in Public Health |
| title | Body Mass Index in Clinic Attenders: Patient Self-Perception versus Actual Measurements |
| title_full | Body Mass Index in Clinic Attenders: Patient Self-Perception versus Actual Measurements |
| title_fullStr | Body Mass Index in Clinic Attenders: Patient Self-Perception versus Actual Measurements |
| title_full_unstemmed | Body Mass Index in Clinic Attenders: Patient Self-Perception versus Actual Measurements |
| title_short | Body Mass Index in Clinic Attenders: Patient Self-Perception versus Actual Measurements |
| title_sort | body mass index in clinic attenders patient self perception versus actual measurements |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/160206 |
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