Purpose: To investigate relationships between body mass index (BMI), personality type, weight loss regimens, and successful or unsuccessful weight loss.
Data sources: Seven hundred and twenty-one registered nurses (RNs) were recruited from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the membership of a nursing honor society, and RNs at a large state university. Participants completed the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a demographic survey (age, gender, height, weight, ethnicity, education status, disability, shift work hours, and prescription medication use), and questions related to their weight status, weight loss attempts, and motivation.
Conclusions: RNs who had a lower BMI were more successful in losing weight than RNs who had a higher BMI. They were also more successful in their weight loss attempts if they did not use a diet regimen.
Implications for practice: RNs who were successful in losing weight did not use a specified dietary regimen.
©2011 The Author Journal compilation ©2011 American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.