Table 1

Characteristics of the study sample (N=500)

N (%)
Physician characteristics
 Gender
  Male335 (67)
 Race
  White350 (70)
  Black15 (3)
  Asian77 (15)
  Hispanic25 (5)
  Other race6 (1)
 Age, years
  Under 45224 (45)
  Aged 45–54124 (25)
  Aged 55 and older152 (30)
 Year since completed medical school
  20 years or more (1990 or earlier)222 (44)
  15 to<20 years (1991–1995)58 (12)
  10 years to<15 (1996–2000)162 (32)
  <=10 (2001–2011)57 (11)
Physician-reported demographics of their patients
 Patients in practice who are obese
  Almost all48 (10)
  About half422 (84)
  Not many20 (4)
 Race of obese patients in practice
  Most are White174 (35)
  Most are minority41 (8)
  Broad range of demographic groups284 (57)
 Income of obese patients in practice
  Most are low income142 (28)
  Most are not low income92 (18)
  Evenly split266 (53)
Physician-reported practice characteristics
 Primary location where patients are seen*
  Hospital or inpatient setting49 (10)
  Office not attached to a hospital or outpatient313 (63)
  Both inpatient and outpatient136 (27)
 Patient chart
  Includes height467 (93)
  Includes body weight499 (99)
  Includes body mass index378 (76)
 Location of practice
  Northeast104 (21)
  North central114 (23)
  South166 (33)
  West116 (23)
 Physician obesity-related training rated as very or pretty good
  Medical school115 (23)
  Residency173 (35)
  Continuing medical education298 (60)
  Other training†313 (63)

  • Source: Survey of General Practitioners, Family Practitioners and General Internists between 9 February and 1 March 2011.

  • *One respondent reported the primary location where patients are seen is ‘another location’.

  • †Other training includes inperson or online training such as a lecture, seminar, workshop or conference.

  • Note: Numbers may not add up to 100% because of rounding.