Table 3.

Prevalence of dieting behaviors in different BMI categories^a,^b

	BMI (kg/m2) category
	<18.5 n = 28	18.5–25 n = 205	≥25 n = 30
Have you tried to lose weight in the 3 months preceding your participation in this survey?
Yes (n = 81, 30.8%)	2	66	13*
No (n = 162, 61.6%)	26	123	13
Not sure (n = 20, 7.6%)	0	16	4
Compared to last year at this time, has your weight
Increased (n = 60, 22.8%)	3	48	9
Decreased (n = 45, 17.1%)	4	31	10
Same (n = 87, 33.1%)	12	70	5
Don’t know, I don’t weigh myself (n = 66, 25.1%)	9	51	6
Don’t remember (n = 5, 1.9%)	0	5	0
Do you consider yourself
Very underweight (n = 4, 1.5%)	4	0	0
Slightly underweight (n = 18, 6.8%)	9	9	0
About the right weight (n = 169, 64.3%)	15	146	8
Slightly overweight (n = 68, 25.9%)	0	48	20
Very overweight (n = 4, 1.5%)	0	2	2
If you tried to lose weight in the past 3 months, which methods have you used?
Exercise (n = 81, 30.8%)	2	67	12
Organized programs (n = 5, 1.9%)	0	4	1
Meal replacements (n = 1, 0.4%)	0	1	0
Have not tried to lose weight (n = 145, 55.1%)	26	106	13
Other (n = 31, 11.8%)	0	27	4
I am actively trying to
Gain weight (n = 10, 3.8%)	6	4	0
Avoid gaining weight (n = 85, 32.3%)	7	73	5
Lose weight (n = 114, 43.3%)	7	85	22
Not relevant; not doing anything to change my weight (n = 54, 20.5%)	8	43	3

Notes:

^aBMI categories based on WHO classification;¹⁷

^bdata are shown for n = 263. Trend significant.

^*P < 0.05.

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; WHO, World Health Organization.