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Table 1 Sample characteristics from the general public and eating disorders field (N = 2338)

From: Setting policy priorities to address eating disorders and weight stigma: views from the field of eating disorders and the US general public

 

n

%/M

U.S. General public

  

Female gender

483

51.7

Age (in years)

934

43.3

Race

  

White

648

69.4

African-American

108

11.6

Hispanic

96

10.3

Other

82

8.8

Highest level of education

  

High school or less

231

24.7

Some college

340

36.4

College or higher

363

38.9

Family income

  

Under $25,000

239

25.6

$25,000-$49,999

267

28.6

$50,000-$74,999

188

20.1

$75,000-$99,999

110

11.8

$100,000 or more

130

13.9

Political affiliation

260

27.8

Conservative

  

Moderate

438

46.9

Liberal

236

25.3

History of eating disorder

  

Personal history of ED

124

13.3

History of ED in family

153

16.4

Weight status*

31

3.5

Underweight

  

Normal weight

309

35.2

Overweight

268

30.5

Obese

270

30.8

Body mass index (kg/m2)

878

28.2

Eating Disorders Field

  

Female gender

1338

95.3

Age (in years)

1404

36.8

Race

1282

91.3

White

  

African-American

13

0.93

Hispanic

49

3.49

Other

60

4.27

History of eating disorder

925

65.9

Personal history of ED

  

History of ED in family

675

48.1

  1. Note. ED = eating disorder. Age ranged from 18 to 90 years in the general public sample (SD = 16.5), BMI ranged from 12 to 68 kg/m2 (SD = 7.6); among eating disorder experts, age ranged from 18 to 87 years (SD = 4.2).
  2. *Weight status and BMI were categorized using the clinical guidelines for the classification of overweight and obesity in adults by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, which defines "normal weight" as a BMI (in kg/m2) of 18.5–24.9; "overweight" as a BMI of 25.0–29.9; "obese" as a BMI > =30.
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BMC Public Health

ISSN: 1471-2458

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