Awareness of BMI Among Health Professionals in Tertiary Care Hospitals
A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
Objective: The main objective of our study was to determine awareness and knowledge of BMI amongst physicians in two urban tertiary care centers (Civil Hospital Karachi and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center).
Methodology: This was a comparative cross-sectional, observational, questionnaire-based study conducted at Civil Hospital Karachi and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi, between May 3, 2013, and December 6, 2013. A total of 382 doctors completed our predesigned questionnaire. First, we asked the participants to report their own height, weight, BMI, BMI formula and the normal BMI ranges. Upon completion of the questionnaire we measured their actual height,weight, and BMI with the help of standardized scale.
Results: A total of 382 physicians were included in our study; 160 were males (41.9%) and 222 (58.1%) were females. The mean age was 29.99 (± 5.47) years old. Only 118 (30.9%) performed some form of exercise. Interestingly, only 286 (74.9%) physicians knew their own height while 310 (81.2%) knew their own weight respectively. While inquiring about their knowledge of Body Mass Index (BMI) 306 (80.1%) doctors reported they knew the concept and importance of BMI. However, only 112 (29.3%) knew the correct formula to calculate one’s own BMI. Moreover, only 110 (28.8%) physicians knew their exact BMI while 272 (71.2%) were completely unaware.
Conclusion: It is imperative for medical professionals to have self-awareness and knowledge of Body Mass Index (BMI) and its effects on health. Educational activities and modules should be created to promote awareness of these matters. Initiatives to increase knowledge of BMI and healthy ranges will benefit physicians in attaining a greater understanding of their own health as well as that of their patients.
References
Jia H, Lubetkin EI Trends in quality-adjusted life-years lost contributed by smoking and obesity. Am J Prev Med.2010; 38(2):138–44.doi: 10.1016/j.amepre. 2009.09.043
Danaei G, Finucane MM, Lu Y, Singh GM, Cowan MJ, Lin JK. et al. National, regional, and global trends in fasting plasma glucose and diabetes prevalence since 1980: Systematic analysis of health examination surveys and epidemiological studies with 370 country-years and 2·7 million participants. Lancet.2011;378(9785): 31–40.doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60679-X
Malnick SD, Knobler H.The medical complications of obesity. QJM-Int J Med. 2006; 99(9): 565–79. doi: 10.1093/qjmed/hcl085
Ni Mhurchu C, Rodgers A, Pan WH, Gu DF, Woodward M. Body mass index and cardiovascular disease in the Asia-Pacific Region: an overview of 33 cohorts involving 310 000 participants. Int J Epidemiol. 2004;33(4):751- 8
Sun Q, Townsend MK, Okereke OI, Franco OH, Hu FB, Grodstien F. Adiposity and weight change in mid- life in relation to healthy survival after age 70 in women: prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2009; 339: b3796. doi: 10.1136/bmj.b3796
Ann Jinnah Sindh Med Uni 2019; 5(2):
Shiri R, Karppinen J, Leino-Arjas P, Solovieva S, Viikari-Juntura E. The association between obesity and low back pain: a meta-analysis. Am J Epidemiol 2010, 171(2):135-154
Nilsen TIL, Holtermann A, Mork PJ. Physical exercise, body mass index, and risk of chronic pain in the low back and neck/shoulders: longitudinal data from the Nord-Trondelag Health Study.Am J Epidemiol. 2011; 174(3):267-273
Oliveria SA, Felson DT, Cirillo PA, Reed JI, Walker AM. Body weight, body mass index, and incident symptomatic osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee. Epidemiology. 1999; 10(2):161-166
Grotle M, Hagen KB, Natvig B, Dahl FA, Kvien TK. Obesity and osteoarthritis in knee, hip and/or hand: an epidemiological study in the general population with 10 years follow-up. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2008; 9:132
Montero P, Bernis C, Fernandez V, Castro S. Influence of body mass index and slimming habits on menstrual pain and cycle irregularity. J Biosoc Sci. 1996;28(3):315- 323
Black RE, Morris SS, Bryce J. Where and Why are 10 million children dying every year? Lancet. 2003; 361(9376):2226-2234
Chumlea WC, Guo SS. Body mass and bone mineral quality. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 1999; 11(4):307-311
Gallagher D, Visser M, Sepulveda D, Pierson RN, Harris T, Heymsfield SB. How useful is body mass index for comparison of body fatness across age, sex, and ethnic groups? Am J Epidemiol.1996; 143(3): 228–39. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a008733
Kuchler F, Variyam JN. Mistakes were made: misperception as a barrier to reducing overweight. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2003; 27: 856–861
Paeratakul S, White MA, Williamson DA, Ryan DH, Bray GA. Sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and BMI in relation to self-perception of overweight. Obes Res 2002; 10(5):345–350
Truesdale K, Stevens J. Do the obese know they are obese? Experimental Biology 2006. FASEB J. 2006;20:1313
Viner RM, Haines MM, Taylor SJC, Head J, Booy R, Stansfeld S. Body mass, weight control behaviours, weight perception and emotional well being in a multiethnic sample of early adolescents. Int J Obes (Lond). 2006; 30(10): 1514–1521
Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Ogden CL. Prevalence of obesity and trends in the distribution of body mass index among US adults, 1999–2010. JAMA. 2012; 307(5):491–497
Rexrode KM, Hennekens CH, Willett WC, Colditz GA, Stampfer MJ, Rich-Edwards JW, et.al. A prospective study of body mass index, weight change, and risk of stroke in women. JAMA. 1997;277(19):1539–1545
Ni Mhurchu C, Rodgers A, Pan WH, Gu DF, Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration. Body mass index and cardiovascular disease in the asia-pacific region: An overview of 33 cohorts involving 310,000 participants. Int J Epidemiol. 2004;33(4):751–758
Kurth T, Gaziano JM, Berger K, Kase CS, Rexrode KM, Cook NR, et al. Body mass index and the risk of stroke in men. Arch Intern Med. 2002; 162(22): 2557–2562
Wardle J, Haase AM, Steptoe A. Body image and weight control in young adults: international comparisons in university students from 22 countries. Int J Obes (Lond). 2006;30(4):644-51
Rodin J. Cultural and psychosocial determinants of weight concerns. Ann Intern Med. 1993;119(7p2):643- 5
Sciacca JP, Melby CL, Hyner GC, Brown AC, Femea PL. Body mass index and perceived weight status in young adults. J Community Health. 1991;16(3):159-68
Kurdak H, Bozdemir N, Saatci E, Ozturk P, Ozcan S, Akpinar E. Self-perceived body weight status and weight-control behaviors of high school students in a southern city of Turkey. Coll Antropol. 2010;34(4):1295- 1302
Park E. Overestimation and underestimation: adolescents’ weight perception in comparison to BMI- based weight status and how it varies across socio- demographic factors. J Sch Health. 2011;81(2):57-64
Jones M, Grilo CM, Masheb RM, White MA. Psychological and behavioral correlates of excess weight: misperception of obese status among persons with Class II obesity. Int J Eat Disord. 2010; 43(7):628-632
Bhanji S, Khuwaja AK, Siddiqui F, Azam I, Kazmi K. Underestimation of weight and its associated factors among overweight and obese adults in Pakistan: a cross sectional study. BMC Publ Health. 2011; 11:363
