Table 1.
Characteristics of US adults (aged ≥20 y) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2010a, overall and by weight loss activities
| Weight loss efforts | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Pursuing weight loss activities | No weight loss activities | P for diff | |
| N | N(%) | N(%) | ||
| Total | 9690 | 3842 (43) | 5848 (57) | |
| Sex | ||||
| Male | 4772 | 1536 (40) | 3236 (54) | <0.001 |
| Female | 4918 | 2306 (60) | 2612 (46) | |
| Race-ethnicity | ||||
| Non-Hispanic white | 4772 | 1891 (75) | 2883 (74) | 0.50 |
| Non-Hispanic black | 1764 | 696 (11) | 1068 (11) | |
| Mexican American | 2706 | 1092 (13) | 1614 (14) | |
| Age | ||||
| 20–44 y | 4382 | 1899 (52) | 2483 (48) | < 0.001 |
| 45–64 y | 3180 | 1327 (37) | 1853 (35) | |
| ≥ 65 y | 2128 | 616 (11) | 1512 (18) | |
| Education | ||||
| Less than high school | 2689 | 811 (14) | 1878 (22) | < 0.001 |
| High school (or GED) | 2328 | 872 (22) | 1456 (25) | |
| More than high school | 4661 | 2158 (64) | 2503 (53) | |
| Marital status | ||||
| Currently married | 5034 | 2044 (57) | 2990 (53) | 0.03 |
| Previously married | 2116 | 791 (16) | 1325 (19) | |
| Living with a partner | 777 | 277 (7) | 500 (9) | |
| Never married | 1760 | 729 (20) | 1031 (20) | |
| Bodyweightb | ||||
| Healthy | 2762 | 561 (18) | 2201 (42) | < 0.001 |
| Overweight | 3374 | 1381 (37) | 1993 (34) | |
| Obese | 3304 | 1871 (45) | 1433 (24) | |
| Poverty income ratio | ||||
| < 130 % FPL | 2778 | 955 (18) | 1923 (24) | < 0.01 |
| ≥ 130 % FPL | 6059 | 2606 (82) | 3453 (76) | |
Note: P-value for difference is based on chi-squared test
a Percentage of US population estimated with survey weights to adjust for unequal probability of sampling
b Healthy weight [BMI (kg/m2) 18.5–24.99], Overweight (BMI 25–29.99), Obese (BMI ≥ 30)