Table 3.
Weight management expectations
| Characteristic | Body mass index, kg m−2 | p a | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25.0–29.9 (N = 648b) | 30.0–34.9 (N = 619b) | 35.0–39.9 (N = 474b) | ≥ 40.0 (N = 522b) | ||
| Do you think you need to lose weight? | <0.001 | ||||
| No | 162 (25.0) | 36 (5.8) | 7 (1.5) | 4 (0.8) | |
| Yes | 486 (75.0) | 583 (94.2) | 467 (98.5) | 518 (99.2) | |
| How much do you think you need to lose?b | <0.001 | ||||
| 10 lb or less | 155 (32.0) | 41 (7.1) | 1 (0.2) | 3 (0.6) | |
| 11 to 25 lb | 267 (55.0) | 248 (42.9) | 61 (13.1) | 12 (2.3) | |
| 26 to 50 lb | 62 (12.8) | 240 (41.5) | 197 (42.4) | 53 (10.2) | |
| 51 lb or more | 1 (0.2) | 49 (8.5) | 206 (44.3) | 449 (86.9) | |
| How much do you desire to lose weight? (0–10)b | <0.001 | ||||
| Mean ± SD | 7.7 ± 2.2 | 7.9 ± 2.0 | 8.4 ± 2.0 | 8.7 ± 1.8 | |
| Median (25th, 75th) | 8 (6, 10) | 8 (7, 10) | 9 (7, 10) | 10 (8, 10) | |
| How much do you believe you can lose weight? (0–10)b | <0.001 | ||||
| Mean ± SD | 7.7 ± 2.2 | 7.1 ± 2.4 | 6.6 ± 2.5 | 6.5 ± 2.7 | |
| Median (25th, 75th) | 8 (6, 10) | 7 (5, 9) | 7 (5, 9) | 7 (5, 9) | |
| What are the major barriers to your losing weight?b | |||||
| Not enough time to do physical activity | 113 (23.3) | 111 (19.0) | 92 (19.7) | 94 (18.2) | 0.196 |
| Medical condition that limits ability to do physical activity | 106 (21.8) | 180 (30.9) | 162 (34.7) | 250 (48.3) | <0.001 |
| Do not have access to healthy food choices | 12 (2.5) | 22 (3.7) | 20 (4.3) | 46 (8.9) | <0.001 |
| Do not have access to a facility to do physical activity | 32 (6.6) | 54 (9.3) | 42 (9.0) | 79 (15.3) | <0.001 |
| Cannot afford a gym membership | 51 (10.5) | 107 (18.4) | 109 (23.3) | 171 (33.0) | <0.001 |
| Pressure from my family or peers to not lose weight | 6 (1.2) | 8 (1.4) | 7 (1.5) | 16 (3.1) | 0.086 |
| Food cravings that prevent me from losing weight | 192 (39.5) | 234 (40.1) | 230 (49.3) | 262 (50.6) | <0.001 |
| Not sure which foods to eat to help lose weight | 47 (9.7) | 101 (17.3) | 67 (14.4) | 91 (17.6) | 0.001 |
| Not enough time to do physical activity | 113 (23.3) | 111 (19.0) | 92 (19.7) | 94 (18.2) | 0.196 |
| Medical condition that limits ability to do physical activity | 106 (21.8) | 180 (30.9) | 162 (34.7) | 250 (48.3) | <0.001 |
| Do not have access to healthy food choices | 12 (2.5) | 22 (3.7) | 20 (4.3) | 46 (8.9) | <0.001 |
| Do not have access to a facility to do physical activity | 32 (6.6) | 54 (9.3) | 42 (9.0) | 79 (15.3) | <0.001 |
Categorical variables were compared across groups using the chi‐square test, and continuous variables were compared across groups using analysis of variance.
Data are summarized only for patients who indicated that they think they need to lose weight.