Table 5.

Current Weight Management Practices for Obese Patients Associated with Barriers, Beliefs, Personal Weight-Related and Clinical Characteristics

	For obese patients, percent of providers who always
Barriers, Beliefs, Personal Weight-Related and Clinical Characteristics	Calculate BMI	Recommend weight loss	Discuss diet or exercise	Refer for wt. services	Counsel in positive context
Learned good obesity practices in medical school
Agree	39	54	62	23	67
Not agree	34	29*	31**	5*-f	81
Learned good obesity practices in residency
Agree	44	53	59	19	81
Not agree	32	26*	29**	5	76
Obesity is a disease
Agree	35	34	40	9	83
Not agree	38	38	25	13	50*-f
Training level
Attending physician/PA	44	29	41	13	94
Resident physician	32	37	37	8	70*-f
Own BMI
Not overweight (<25)	39	31	44	16	78
Overweight (25+)	27	41	32	0*-f	76
Watch own diet
Moderately-Very Vigorously	42	36	39	11	79
Not at all- Slightly Vigorously	13**	33	40	7	73
Own exercise practices
3+ times per week	50	31	44	6	100
<3 times per week	27*	37	37	11	68*-f

*p < 0.10 based on Chi-Square statistic ** p < 0.05 based on Chi-Square statistic ^f Fisher's Exact Test