TABLE 1—
Comparison of Descriptive Statistics Among US Adults, by Weight Status: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2003
| Wanted to Gain Weight | Happy With Weight | Wanted to Lose Weight | |
| Number of participants | 15 862 | 65 353 | 165 812 |
| Percentage of total | 8.2 | 25.7 | 66.2 |
| Age, y, % | |||
| 18–44 | 11.0 | 25.7 | 63.3 |
| 45–64 | 4.2 | 21.5 | 74.3 |
| ≥ 65 | 6.9 | 33.2 | 59.8 |
| Gender, % | |||
| Men | 11.9 | 30.4 | 57.7 |
| Women | 4.6 | 21.1 | 74.4 |
| Race/ethnicity, % | |||
| Non-Hispanic White | 6.6 | 25.9 | 67.5 |
| Non-Hispanic Black | 14.3 | 24.2 | 61.5 |
| Hispanic | 10.2 | 23.7 | 66.1 |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 13.1 | 27.2 | 59.7 |
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 11.6 | 26.8 | 61.6 |
| Other | 13.5 | 32.0 | 54.6 |
| Education, % | |||
| No high school diploma or GED | 13.0 | 28.7 | 58.3 |
| High school diploma or GED | 9.5 | 26.0 | 64.6 |
| Postsecondary degree | 6.5 | 24.8 | 68.7 |
| BMI, kg/m2, % | |||
| < 20.0 | 38.2 | 49.1 | 12.6 |
| 20.0–24.9 | 13.5 | 41.3 | 45.2 |
| 25–29.9 | 3.2 | 20.5 | 76.3 |
| ≥ 30.0 | 0.6 | 4.8 | 94.5 |
| Unhealthy days, mean no. | 7.6 | 4.9 | 6.3 |
| Physically unhealthy days | 4.4 | 3.0 | 3.7 |
| Mentally unhealthy days | 4.5 | 2.6 | 3.6 |
Notes. GED = general educational development degree; BMI = body mass index. Overweight was defined as a BMI of 25.0–29.9 kg/m2 obese was ≥ 30 kg/m2 All values in the table are significant across desired weight categories and within groups at P < .001.