This paper reports a research study focused on perspective of nurse body size and how it affects confidence in a nurses’ ability to provide education on diet and exercise. The study followed a descriptive method design guided by a cross-sectional survey with quantitative variables. Results show that there is increased confidence in a nurse’s ability to provide education and influence habits regarding diet and exercise when the nurse role models such behaviors. Other findings presented include respondents’ perception of their body mass index versus their actual body mass index, percentage of respondents with health care conditions related to obesity, and percentage of respondents who have received education on diet and exercise from a heath care professional. The results of the study will enhance nursing literature and will benefit registered nurses, advance practice nurses, and nurse educators. It will provide nurses with an increased understanding of how their body size can influence receptiveness to teaching on diet and exercise

Spaulding, Erin Murdock

English

UNH Scholars' Repository

University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryStudent Research Projects Student ScholarshipSpring 5-7-2014Instilling Diet and Exercise Confidence: Influenceof Nurse Body SizeErin Murdock SpauldingFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/student_researchPart of the Nursing CommonsThis Undergraduate Research Project is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Scholarship at University of New Hampshire Scholars'Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Student Research Projects by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars'Repository. For more information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationSpaulding, Erin Murdock, "Instilling Diet and Exercise Confidence: Influence of Nurse Body Size" (2014). Student Research Projects.14.https://scholars.unh.edu/student_research/14Instilling Diet and Exercise Confidence: Influence of Nurse Body Size  Erin Spaulding, SN Faculty Sponsor: Joyce Cappiello, PhD, APRN-FNP, FAANP University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH Purpose Future Steps The aim of this study was to explore perceptions of nurse’s body size on providing effective education on diet and exercise.  References • In the U.S., from 2009 to 2010, obesity was 35.5% and 35.8% in men and women, respectively.[1]  • In the U.S., obesity is accountable for over 407,000 deaths per year, or 17% of all deaths.[2]  • Body Mass Index (BMI) measures body weight • Underweight  (<18.50) • Normal Weight (18.50-24.99) • Overweight (25.00-29.99) • Obese (>30.00)  • 54.5% of nurses in the U.S. are overweight or obese  • 38% overweight • 18.7% obese • 5.2% morbidly obese[3]   • Affective learning results in a change of beliefs, attitudes, and values. Role modeling can instill an affective change.[4]  • To accomplish  nursing priorities  of patient education and health promotion, nurses should role model health behaviors.[5]  • Will people have increased confidence in a nurses’ ability to provide effective education on diet and exercise when he/she role models such behaviors? Acknowledgments • Quantitative method  • The UNH program, Qualtrics, was used to collect data via a cross-sectional survey  • SPSS program was used to analyze data • Sample = 73; 12 male (16.4%); 61 female (83.6%) of those who responded  • Mean age= 59.99; Age range (39-80 yrs.); Mean height=65.77 in.; Mean weight=157.78 lbs.  • Mean BMI= 25.65 (overweight); BMI range (18.55-43.34); SD=5.28  • National avg. for obesity= 35.6% [1] , Sample avg. for obesity was 45.2%  • 49.4% had no health conditions; 30.1% 1 health condition; 2.4% 2 health conditions; 2% 3 health conditions  • 56.9% of the sample reported receiving education on diet/healthy eating habits and 54.9% on exercise from a health care professional  • While only 54.9% and 56.9% of respondents received education on exercise and diet/healthy eating habits, respectively, it is important to note that 49.4% reported having no health conditions  • While most participants identified the underweight nurse (90.0%), the normal weight nurse (98.6%), and obese nurse (94.3%) correctly, only 75.7% identified the overweight nurse correctly   • Positive relationship found between actual BMI and perceived BMI      (r= .563, p= .000)  • Inverse relationship found between actual BMI and accuracy of perceived BMI (r= -.304, p= .009) • Explore patient perceptions of overweight and obese nurses  • Explore reasons for lack of education on diet and exercise by health care professionals  • Determine if a nurse’s weight affects a patient’s ability to learn and implement changes in their own lifestyle [1] Flegal, K., Carroll, M., Kit, B., & Ogden, C. (2012). Prevalence of obesity and trends in the distribution of body mass index among US adults, 1999-2010. JAMA: Journal Of The American Medical Association, 307(5), 491-497.  [2] CDC/NCHS, Health, United States, 2012. Data from the National Vital Statistics System.  [3] Miller, S., Alpert, P., & Cross, C. (2008). Overweight and obesity in nurses, advanced practice nurses, and nurse educators. Journal Of The American Academy Of Nurse Practitioners, 20(5), 259-265.   [4] Bastable, S.B., Gramet, P., Jacobs, K., & Sopczyk, D.L. (2011). Health Professional as Educator. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.   [5] Kay, J. (1999). Health promotion: ensuring the health of the nurse. Nurse Standard, 13(18), 49-56.   I would like to thank my faculty advisor, Joyce Cappiello, PhD, APRN-FNP, FAANP and Honors Coordinator, Gene Harkless, DNSc, ARPN, FAANP for their guidance through my thesis development. I would also like to thank my family and friends for their support.  Findings Background Actual BMI Perceived BMI Underweight 0% 4.2% Normal Weight 54.8% 36.1% Overweight 31.5% 43.1% Obese 13.7% 11.1% Methods Conclusion Overall, this study provides additional evidence to support that people have increased confidence in a nurse to provide education on diet and exercise when he/she embodies those health behaviors.   Actual to Perceived BMI Category Difference 2 categories over (2.8%)1 category over (15.3%)Actual equals PerceivedBMI (61.1%)1 category less (19.4%)2 categories less (1.4%)

Instilling Diet and Exercise Confidence: Influence of Nurse Body Size

University of New Hampshire

University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository
Student Research Projects Student Scholarship
Spring 5-7-2014
Instilling Diet and Exercise Confidence: Influence
of Nurse Body Size
Erin Murdock Spaulding
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/student_research
Part of the Nursing Commons
This Undergraduate Research Project is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Scholarship at University of New Hampshire Scholars'
Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Student Research Projects by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars'
Repository. For more information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.
Recommended Citation
Spaulding, Erin Murdock, "Instilling Diet and Exercise Confidence: Influence of Nurse Body Size" (2014). Student Research Projects.
14.
https://scholars.unh.edu/student_research/14
Instilling Diet and Exercise Confidence: Influence of Nurse Body Size 
 
Erin Spaulding, SN 
Faculty Sponsor: Joyce Cappiello, PhD, APRN-FNP, FAANP 
University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 
Purpose 
Future Steps 
The aim of this study was to explore perceptions of nurse’s 
body size on providing effective education on diet and 
exercise.  
References 
• In the U.S., from 2009 to 2010, obesity was 35.5% and 
35.8% in men and women, respectively.[1] 
 
• In the U.S., obesity is accountable for over 407,000 
deaths per year, or 17% of all deaths.[2] 
 
• Body Mass Index (BMI) measures body weight 
• Underweight  (<18.50) 
• Normal Weight (18.50-24.99) 
• Overweight (25.00-29.99) 
• Obese (>30.00) 
 
• 54.5% of nurses in the U.S. are overweight or obese  
• 38% overweight 
• 18.7% obese 
• 5.2% morbidly obese[3]  
 
• Affective learning results in a change of beliefs, 
attitudes, and values. Role modeling can instill an 
affective change.[4] 
 
• To accomplish  nursing priorities  of patient education 
and health promotion, nurses should role model 
health behaviors.[5] 
 
• Will people have increased confidence in a nurses’ 
ability to provide effective education on diet and 
exercise when he/she role models such behaviors? 
Acknowledgments 
• Quantitative method 
 
• The UNH program, Qualtrics, was used to collect data 
via a cross-sectional survey 
 
• SPSS program was used to analyze data 
• Sample = 73; 12 male (16.4%); 61 female (83.6%) of those who 
responded 
 
• Mean age= 59.99; Age range (39-80 yrs.); Mean height=65.77 in.; Mean 
weight=157.78 lbs. 
 
• Mean BMI= 25.65 (overweight); BMI range (18.55-43.34); SD=5.28 
 
• National avg. for obesity= 35.6% [1] , Sample avg. for obesity was 45.2% 
 
• 49.4% had no health conditions; 30.1% 1 health condition; 2.4% 2 
health conditions; 2% 3 health conditions 
 
• 56.9% of the sample reported receiving education on diet/healthy 
eating habits and 54.9% on exercise from a health care professional 
 
• While only 54.9% and 56.9% of respondents received education on 
exercise and diet/healthy eating habits, respectively, it is important to 
note that 49.4% reported having no health conditions 
 
• While most participants identified the underweight nurse (90.0%), the 
normal weight nurse (98.6%), and obese nurse (94.3%) correctly, only 
75.7% identified the overweight nurse correctly  
 
• Positive relationship found between actual BMI and perceived BMI      
(r= .563, p= .000) 
 
• Inverse relationship found between actual BMI and accuracy of 
perceived BMI (r= -.304, p= .009) 
• Explore patient perceptions of overweight and obese nurses 
 
• Explore reasons for lack of education on diet and exercise by health 
care professionals 
 
• Determine if a nurse’s weight affects a patient’s ability to learn and 
implement changes in their own lifestyle 
[1] Flegal, K., Carroll, M., Kit, B., & Ogden, C. (2012). Prevalence of obesity and trends in the distribution of body mass index among US adults, 1999-2010. JAMA: Journal Of The 
American Medical Association, 307(5), 491-497. 
 
[2] CDC/NCHS, Health, United States, 2012. Data from the National Vital Statistics System. 
 
[3] Miller, S., Alpert, P., & Cross, C. (2008). Overweight and obesity in nurses, advanced practice nurses, and nurse educators. Journal Of The American Academy Of Nurse 
Practitioners, 20(5), 259-265.  
 
[4] Bastable, S.B., Gramet, P., Jacobs, K., & Sopczyk, D.L. (2011). Health Professional as Educator. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.  
 
[5] Kay, J. (1999). Health promotion: ensuring the health of the nurse. Nurse Standard, 13(18), 49-56.  
 
I would like to thank my faculty advisor, Joyce Cappiello, PhD, 
APRN-FNP, FAANP and Honors Coordinator, Gene Harkless, DNSc, 
ARPN, FAANP for their guidance through my thesis development. 
I would also like to thank my family and friends for their support.  
Findings Background 
Actual 
BMI 
Perceived 
BMI 
Underweight 0% 4.2% 
Normal Weight 54.8% 36.1% 
Overweight 31.5% 43.1% 
Obese 13.7% 11.1% 
Methods 
Conclusion 
Overall, this study provides additional evidence to support that people 
have increased confidence in a nurse to provide education on diet and 
exercise when he/she embodies those health behaviors.   
Actual to Perceived BMI Category Difference 
2 categories over (2.8%)
1 category over (15.3%)
Actual equals Perceived
BMI (61.1%)
1 category less (19.4%)
2 categories less (1.4%)


https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1182&context=honors

Instilling Diet and Exercise Confidence: Influence of Nurse Body Size

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