A descriptive study: weight management practices of members of a professional nursing association who were trying to lose weight.

In the United States, obesity has reached epidemic levels. A critical challenge today is improving the health behaviors of those providing care to the general public. This descriptive quantitative study sought to describe the weight management practices of members of a professional nursing association who were trying to lose weight. Questions were adapted from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2001-2010). In addition, the HealthStyles survey (Pollard, 2002; Kruger, Blanck, & Gillespie, 2006) was used along with one additionally inserted question. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Pearson Product Moment Correlation, and a Spearman Rho. Findings suggested that a small percentage of the nurses moved from the obese classification into the overweight status, thereby improving their health. Over 60% of the nurses attempted to lose weight by combining dietary and exercise strategies. Forty-one percent of the nurses met the recommended physical activity guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) to maintain health and to reduce the risk for chronic disease, but in order to lose weight, only 13% met the recommended 60-90 minutes of physical activity guidelines.