Table 2.
Dieting behavior categorized by age, height, body weight, and BMI
| Question | BMI | Restraint | Disinhibition | Hunger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do you consider yourself to be | ||||
| Very underweight (n = 4) | 17.7 ± 0.6* | 5.5 ± 2.4* | 4.5 ± 1.9* | 5.8 ± 5.2 |
| Slightly underweight (n = 18) | 18.6 ± 1.2 | 5.1 ± 3.9 | 4.5 ± 2.5 | 6.2 ± 3.3 |
| About the right weight (n = 169) | 21.1 ± 2.1 | 8.3 ± 5.1 | 6.2 ± 3.3 | 5.1 ± 3.0 |
| Slightly overweight (n = 68) | 23.2 ± 2.5 | 9.0 ± 5.4 | 7.8 ± 3.4 | 5.1 ± 3.3 |
| Very overweight (n = 4) | 25.9 ± 6.5 | 12.0 ± 3.2 | 9.5 ± 3.7 | 5.8 ± 1.0 |
| Compared to last year has your weight | ||||
| Increased (n = 60) | 22.3 ± 2.9a | 8.4 ± 4.8d | 8.3 ± 3.7a | 6.1 ± 3.2 |
| Decreased (n = 45) | 21.8 ± 2.6 | 11.0 ± 5.7c | 6.2 ± 3.7 | 4.3 ± 3.1 |
| Stayed the same (n = 87) | 20.9 ± 2.4a | 7.6 ± 5.0d | 5.8 ± 3.0b | 5.3 ± 3.2 |
| Don’t know, I don’t weigh myself (n = 66) | 21.2 ± 2.4 | 7.6 ± 5.0d | 6.2 ± 3.0 | 5.0 ± 2.8 |
| Don’t remember (n = 5) | 21.6 ± 2.0 | 4.8 ± 3.1 | 6.4 ± 1.1 | 3.8 ± 2.7 |
| Have you tried to lose weight in the past 3 months? | ||||
| Yes (n = 81) | 22.3 ± 2.7* | 10.9 ± 5.2 | 7.9 ± 3.6 | 5.5 ± 3.2 |
| No (n = 162) | 21.0 ± 2.4 | 7.0 ± 4.6 | 5.9 ± 3.1 | 5.1 ± 3.1 |
| Not sure (n = 20) | 22.3 ± 2.3 | 8.3 ± 5.1 | 6.7 ± 2.5 | 4.8 ± 2.8 |
| If you tried to lose weight in the past 3 months, what methods did you use? | ||||
| Exercise (n = 81) | 22.3 ± 2.6** | 9.9 ± 5.1 | 7.3 ± 3.7 | 5.4 ± 2.9 |
| Organized programs (n = 5) | 22.4 ± 2.2 | 9.0 ± 7.2 | 7.2 ± 3.4 | 5.6 ± 5.2 |
| Meal replacements (n = 1) | 20.8 | 11.0 | 10.0 | 9.0 |
| Have not tried to lose weight (n = 145) | 21.0 ± 2.5 | 6.9 ± 4.8 | 5.6 ± 3.0 | 5.0 ± 3.1 |
| Other (n = 31) | 21.7 ± 2.5 | 10.5 ± 5.0 | 8.4 ± 3.2 | 5.2 ± 3.2 |
| I am actively trying to | ||||
| Gain weight (n = 9) | 18.5 ± 1.5* | 3.9 ± 2.5 | 3.3 ± 1.9 | 6.4 ± 4.7 |
| Not relevant; not doing anything to change my weight (n = 54) | 20.8 ± 2.1 | 5.2 ± 4.1 | 5.3 ± 3.3 | 4.5 ± 3.1 |
| Avoid gaining weight (n = 85) | 21.3 ± 2.2 | 8.9 ± 5.1 | 6.6 ± 3.2 | 5.4 ± 2.8 |
| Lose weight (n = 112) | 22.3 ± 2.8 | 9.7 ± 5.1 | 7.4 ± 3.3 | 5.3 ± 3.1 |
Notes: Data are shown as the mean ± SD, n = 263. Trends within a column are significant;
*
P < 0.001;
**
P < 0.01.
Shared superscripts within the same column are statistically significant;
a,b
P < 0.05;
c,d
P < 0.01.
Abbreviation: BMI, body mass index.