Table 5.

Weight control motives

	Weight loss attempts				Weight maintenance attempts
Motives	Number of studies	n	Prevalence (%)*	References	Number of studies	n	Prevalence (%)*	References
Improve appearance	5	1,104	71.4	15, 24, 32, 35, 38	2	460	79.8	15, 38
Improve health/prevent diseases	5	1,104	35.3	15, 24, 32, 35, 38	2	460	97.6	15, 38
Improve wellbeing	3	501	95.0	15, 22, 38	3	460	90.8	15, 22, 38
Improve fitness condition/stay fit	3	501	84.6	15, 32, 38	2	460	86.9	15, 38
Improve self‐esteem	3	501	73.9	15, 32, 38	2	460	71.0	15, 38
Health professional advice	3	501	40.0	15, 22, 38	3	460	38.6	15, 22, 38
Please/insistence of spouse or partner	2	234	46.2	15, 22	2	247	32.0	15, 22
Improve social life/avoid discrimination	2	267	37.8	22, 38	2	213	44.6	22, 38
Improve professional life/fulfil specific professional requirements	2	267	32.2	22, 38	2	213	42.7	22, 38
Please/insistence of family	2	234	27.8	15, 22	2	247	24.9	15, 22
Decrease disease risk (e.g. heart attack)	1	—	—	24	0	—	—
Special event/season (e.g. holiday, summer)	1	—	—	22	1	—	—	22

^* Prevalence indicates the number of respondents out of n study sample that reported motives for trying to lose or maintain weight. Studies 22, 24, 35 were not accounted for sample size or prevalence rate because they did not have sufficient data available. Data from study 46 was not included because of methodological differences (only the most important motive was reported).