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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Increase the proportion of health care visits by adults with obesity that include counseling on weight loss, nutrition, or physical activity — NWS‑05 Data Methodology and Measurement

On this page:  About the National Data  |  Methodology  |  History

About the National Data

Data

Data Source:  National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), CDC/NCHS

Baseline: 24.8 percent of physician office visits made by adults with obesity included counseling or education related to weight reduction, nutrition, or physical activity in 2016

Target: 32.6 percent

Numerator
Number of visits to non-Federal physicians in office-based practices by ambulatory patients aged 20 years and over with obesity (a body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher), in which health education related to weight reduction, nutrition, or physical activity was ordered or provided.
Denominator
Number of visits to non-Federal physicians in office-based practices by ambulatory patients aged 20 years and over with obesity (a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or higher).
Target-setting method
Minimal statistical significance
Target-setting method details
Minimal statistical significance, assuming the same standard error for the target as for the baseline.
Target-setting method justification
The standard error was used to calculate a target based on minimal statistical significance, assuming the same standard error for the target as for the baseline. This method was used because it was a statistically significant improvement from the baseline.

Methodology

Questions used to obtain the national baseline data

(For additional information, please visit the data source page linked above.)

From the 2016 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey patient record:

Numerator:
Was any health education ordered or provided at this visit?

(A check box is provided for "weight reduction", "diet/nutrition," and "exercise.")

Numerator and Denominator:
  1. Height:_______________
  2. Weight:_______________

Methodology notes

BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters. Obesity is defined as a BMI of 30.0 or greater.

Age-adjustment notes

This Indicator uses Age-Adjustment Groups:

  • Total: 20-44, 45-64, 65+
  • Sex: 20-44, 45-64, 65+
  • Race/Ethnicity: 20-44, 45-64, 65+
  • Geographic Location: 20-44, 45-64, 65+
  • Health Insurance Status: 20-44, 45-64

History

Comparable HP2020 objective
Retained, which includes core objectives that are continuing from Healthy People 2020 with no change in measurement.