Table 3. Trends in Weight Loss Strategies Among Adults in the United States 20 Years or Older Who Tried to Lose Weight in the Past Year, 1999-2000 to 2015-2016a.
| Strategy | No. (% [95% CI]) | P for Trendb | 2015-2016 vs 1999-2000b | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990-2000 (n = 4597) | 2001-2002 (n = 5094) | 2003-2004 (n = 4808) | 2005-2006 (n = 4643) | 2007-2008 (n = 5878) | 2009-2010 (n = 6150) | 2011-2012 (n = 5503) | 2013-2014 (n = 5704) | 2015-2016 (n = 5649) | Ratioc | Difference, % (95% CI) | ||
| Ate less food | 813 (21.18 [19.23 to 23.12]) | 1163 (26.28 [24.68 to 27.89]) | 1144 (27.83 [25.50 to 30.15]) | 1282 (30.79 [29.20 to 32.38]) | 1549 (29.15 [26.82 to 31.48]) | 1387 (24.28 [22.83 to 25.73]) | 1328 (27.88 [25.30 to 30.46]) | 1496 (29.32 [27.71 to 30.93]) | 1572 (31.93 [30.08 to 33.77]) | <.001 | 1.59 (1.44 to 1.75) | 11.14 (8.23 to 13.34) |
| Lowered calories | 413 (11.77 [9.87 to 13.67]) | 630 (14.98 [13.78 to 16.18]) | 673 (17.62 [16.17 to 19.06]) | 718 (17.83 [16.39 to 19.27]) | 891 (17.53 [15.96 to 19.09]) | 664 (12.68 [11.24 to 14.12]) | 614 (13.59 [11.89 to 15.30]) | 784 (16.43 [15.09 to 17.78]) | 857 (17.49 [16.21 to 19.67]) | .003 | 1.53 (1.34 to 1.73) | 7.01 (4.45 to 8.56) |
| Ate less fat | 508 (13.09 [11.35 to 14.82]) | 788 (18.48 [16.62 to 20.34]) | 712 (17.65 [15.50 to 19.80]) | 824 (19.81 [18.24 to 21.38]) | 1077 (20.03 [17.94 to 22.11]) | 765 (12.68 [11.51 to 13.84]) | 652 (12.63 [10.87 to 14.39]) | 719 (13.07 [11.53 to 14.60]) | 859 (15.37 [13.93 to 16.81]) | <.001 | 1.15 (1.01 to 1.29) | 2.28 (1.01 to 3.78) |
| Exercised | 630 (18.22 [16.76 to 19.68]) | 1003 (24.60 [22.36 to 26.84]) | 946 (24.67 [22.61 to 26.72]) | 1152 (29.46 [27.10 to 31.83]) | 1310 (26.86 [23.94 to 29.78]) | 1387 (25.79 [24.53 to 27.06]) | 1351 (27.59 [25.30 to 29.88]) | 1532 (29.76 [27.81 to 31.71]) | 1600 (31.52 [28.70 to 34.34]) | <.001 | 2.24 (2.01 to 2.48) | 14.36 (11.29 to 16.89) |
| Skipped meals | 219 (5.63 [4.52 to 6.74]) | 290 (6.67 [5.31 to 8.02]) | 312 (7.82 [6.79 to 8.86]) | 404 (9.22 [7.70 to 10.74]) | 396 (7.03 [6.43 to 7.63]) | 359 (6.15 [4.90 to 7.41]) | 325 (5.65 [4.60 to 6.70]) | 340 (6.40 [5.50 to 7.31]) | 491 (9.50 [8.37 to 10.64]) | <.001 | 1.22 (1.03 to 1.45) | 4.12 (2.12 to 6.87) |
| Ate diet products | 108 (3.61 [2.32 to 4.91]) | 175 (4.65 [3.75 to 5.55]) | 191 (5.73 [4.77 to 6.68]) | 270 (7.03 [5.74 to 8.32]) | 247 (5.72 [4.35 to 7.09]) | 226 (4.42 [3.75 to 5.08]) | 161 (3.24 [2.06 to 4.42]) | 207 (4.12 [3.44 to 4.79]) | 236 (5.03 [4.15 to 5.91]) | .31 | 1.46 (1.15 to 1.85) | 2.10 (0.11 to 2.89) |
| Used liquid diet formula | 95 (3.02 [2.16 to 3.88]) | 172 (4.01 [3.04 to 4.98]) | 125 (3.29 [2.66 to 3.92]) | 135 (3.45 [2.57 to 4.33]) | 96 (1.88 [1.47 to 2.28]) | 85 (1.45 [0.99 to 1.91]) | 87 (1.68 [1.02 to 2.34]) | 106 (2.27 [1.70 to 2.84]) | 132 (2.49 [1.75 to 3.23]) | .76 | 0.80 (0.59 to 1.06) | −1.46 (−3.62 to 0.10) |
| Joined program to lose weight | 32 (1.25 [0.45 to 2.06]) | 94 (2.71 [2.17 to 3.24]) | 116 (3.93 [3.25 to 4.62]) | 127 (3.81 [2.96 to 4.65]) | 116 (2.84 [2.05 to 3.63]) | 135 (2.90 [2.10 to 3.71]) | 118 (2.96 [2.13 to 3.80]) | 104 (2.68 [1.64 to 3.72]) | 90 (2.95 [1.99 to 3.92]) | <.001 | 2.56 (1.71 to 3.80) | 2.54 (0.45 to 3.76) |
| Took prescription diet pills | 37 (0.92 [0.61 to 1.24]) | 50 (1.29 [0.83 to 1.75]) | 45 (1.34 [0.71 to 1.97]) | 50 (1.18 [0.77 to 1.58]) | 64 (1.18 [0.91 to 1.45]) | 52 (0.77 [0.43 to 1.12]) | 45 (0.97 [0.39 to 1.55]) | 75 (1.60 [1.16 to 2.04]) | 87 (1.43 [0.99 to 1.87]) | .52 | NA | NA |
| Took nonprescription supplementd | 102 (3.14 [2.42 to 3.86)] | 179 (4.73 [3.61 to 5.85]) | 117 (3.54 [2.54 to 4.54]) | 167 (4.45 [3.41 to 5.49]) | 142 (2.69 [2.13 to 3.26]) | 116 (2.15 [1.45 to 2.86]) | 112 (2.28 [1.66 to 2.90]) | 177 (3.44 [2.54 to 4.34]) | 182 (3.86 [3.07 to 4.66]) | .001 | NA | NA |
| Took laxatives | 11 (0.31 [0.20 to 0.42]) | 39 (1.04 [0.48 to 1.59]) | 30 (0.73 [0.38 to 1.08]) | 19 (0.38 [0.09 to 0.67]) | 18 (0.28 [0.11 to 0.46]) | 22 (0.31 [0.13 to 0.49]) | 15 (0.19 [0.02 to 0.36]) | 22 (0.26 [0.13 to 0.39]) | 32 (0.44 [0.25 to 0.64]) | <.001 | NA | NA |
| Other methods | 30 (0.72 [0.33 to 1.11]) | 55 (1.20 [0.65 to 1.74]) | 51 (1.24 [0.72 to 1.76]) | 44 (1.21 [0.67 to 1.75]) | 42 (0.73 [0.45 to 1.01]) | 27 (0.45 [0.19 to 0.70]) | 46 (0.91 [0.68 to 1.14]) | 25 (0.37 [0.14 to 0.61]) | 25 (0.43 [0.20 to 0.67]) | .06 | NA | NA |
| Drank a lot of water | 7 (0.15 [0.00 to 0.30]) | 476 (12.26 [9.25 to 15.28]) | 576 (16.42 [14.73 to 18.10]) | 868 (21.59 [19.14 to 24.04]) | 913 (17.43 [15.14 to 19.72]) | 819 (14.38 [12.91 to 15.86]) | 767 (15.09 [13.62 to 16.55]) | 880 (17.17 [15.75 to 18.60]) | 1370 (26.30 [23.94 to 28.67]) | <.001 | 5.16 (4.65 to 5.73)e | 26.15 (24.13 to 28.98) |
| Followed a special diet | 6 (0.15 [0 to 0.31]) | 109 (2.90 [1.59 to 4.21]) | 191 (6.03 [4.29 to 7.76]) | 199 (5.94 [5.03 to 6.86]) | 112 (2.52 [1.91 to 3.13]) | 102 (1.89 [1.51 to 2.27]) | 111 (2.50 [1.72 to 3.27]) | 158 (3.73 [3.03 to 4.42]) | 134 (3.34 [2.69 to 3.99]) | <.001 | NA | 3.19 (0.61 to 3.78) |
| Ate fewer carbohydrates | NA | NA | NA | 584 (15.67 [13.87 to 17.48]) | 632 (11.76 [9.41 to 14.10]) | 501 (8.94 [8.10 to 9.77]) | 489 (10.02 [8.58 to 11.45]) | 626 (12.93 [11.60 to 14.27]) | 755 (16.67 [14.59 to 18.75]) | .03 | 1.03 (0.92 to 1.16) | 1.00 (0.16 to 3.81) |
| Started or resumed smoking habit | NA | NA | NA | 24 (0.68 [0.36 to 1.00]) | 15 (0.25 [0.06 to 0.44]) | 23 (0.34 [0.09 to 0.58]) | 17 (0.43 [0.09 to 0.78]) | 17 (0.39 [0.12 to 0.66]) | 41 (0.77 [0.47 to 1.07]) | NA | NA | NA |
| Ate more fruits, vegetables, and/or salads | NA | NA | NA | 6 (0.11 [0.00 to 0.24]) | 10 (0.19 [0.06 to 0.32]) | 881 (16.25 [14.92 to 17.59]) | 826 (16.54 [14.20 to 18.89]) | 974 (19.61 [18.55 to 20.66]) | 1450 (29.43 [26.99 to 31.87]) | <.001 | 2.12 (1.93 to 2.33)f | 30.32 (28.09 to 31.19) |
| Changed eating habits | NA | NA | NA | 15 (0.32 [0.10 to 0.54]) | 15 (0. 35 [0.12 to 0.59]) | 604 (11.05 [9.60 to 12.50]) | 614 (12.35 [10.50 to 14.20]) | 883 (17.19 [15.90 to 18.47]) | 1036 (20.48 [18.06 to 22.89]) | <.001 | 2.07 (1.86 to 2.31)f | 20.16 (19.08 to 22.26) |
| Ate less sugar, candy, and/or sweets | NA | NA | NA | 11 (0.23 [0.08 to 0.39]) | 29 (0.66 [0.34 to 0.97]) | 666 (11.99 [10.67 to 13.31]) | 559 (10.96 [9.81 to 12.12]) | 820 (16.64 [15.35 to 17.93]) | 1036 (20.94 [19.08 to 22.80]) | <.001 | 1.87 (1.69 to 2.08)f | 21.71 (19.26 to 22.59) |
| Ate less junk food or fast food | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 695 (12.76 [11.49 to 14.04]) | 658 (13.18 [11.54 to 14.82]) | 851 (16.97 [15.82 to 18.13]) | 1178 (24.28 [22.53 to 26.03]) | <.001 | 2.09 (1.88 to 2.31)f | 12.09 (10.10 to 14.51) |
Abbreviation: NA, not applicable.
a
Analyses were restricted to nonpregnant participants 20 years and older who responded to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Not all participants answered all questions; therefore, the number of participants in different categories were not equal to the total number of participants for the survey cycle. Increasing trends were defined as differences greater than 0 or a ratio greater than 1 with P for trend ≤ .001; decreasing trends were defined as differences less than 0 or a ratio of less than 1, with a P for trend ≤ .001; stable trends were defined as P for trend > .001.
b
Adjusted for age, sex, and race/ethnicity.
c
Calculated based on the available data of the relevant years.
d
Took pills, medicines, herbs, or supplements not needing a prescription.
e
Prevalence ratios for 2015-2016 vs 2001-2002 are presented.
f
Prevalence ratios for 2015-2016 vs 2009-2010 are presented.