Table 5. Cross-Tabulated Type Analyses of Trends in Current Measured BMI, Self-perception of Weight, and Weight Loss Strategies Among Adults in the United States, 1999-2000 to 2015-2016a.
| Strategy | 1999-2000 (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) | P for Trendb | 2015-2016 vs 1999-2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ratio (95% CI) | Difference, % (95% CI) | |||||||||||
| BMI <25 and considered self as having overweight, No. (%) | 227 (4.94) | 236 (4.63) | 228 (4.74) | 220 (4.74) | 199 (3.39) | 216 (3.51) | 184 (3.34) | 192 (3.37) | 132 (2.34) | NA | NA | NA |
| Ate less food, No. (% [95% CI]) | 55 (24.71 [17.31 to 32.12]) | 81 (31.66 [22.82 to 40.50]) | 83 (39.98 [30.64 to 49.31]) | 90 (44.27 [37.06 to 51.49]) | 64 (34.53 [24.37 to 44.70]) | 63 (34.38 [26.56 to 42.21]) | 55 (36.04 [24.98 to 47.10]) | 60 (34.10 [25.11 to 43.09]) | 45 (35.56 [25.76 to 45.36]) | .84 | 1.62 (1.01 to 2.59) | 9.86 (0.24 to 19.48) |
| Exercised, No. (% [95% CI]) | 64 (28.96 [21.17 to 36.74]) | 85 (34.20 [27.05 to 41.34]) | 76 (35.64 [28.31 to 42.99]) | 94 (46.41 [35.85 to 56.98]) | 66 (39.96 [29.23 to 50.68]) | 81 (41.41 [29.93 to 52.91]) | 55 (28.53 [18.78 to 38.29]) | 78 (43.17 [34.54 to 51.80]) | 50 (39.96 [30.80 to 49.12]) | .84 | 1.62 (1.01 to 2.59) | 9.86 (0.24 to 19.48) |
| Drank a lot of water, No. (% [95% CI]) | 0 | 32 (12.95 [6.20 to 19.69]) | 38 (18.73 [13.93 to 23.52]) | 63 (31.78 [21.29 to 42.27]) | 39 (20.93 [12.67 to 29.19]) | 34 (16.79 [12.58 to 20.99]) | 55 (17.62 [10.84 to 24.42]) | 9 (20.01 [12.02 to 28.01]) | 37 (30.34 [16.98 to 43.71]) | <.001 | >999.99 (<0.01 to >999.99) | 28.03 (22.15 to 33.91) |
| Ate more fruits, vegetables, and/or salads, No. (% [95% CI]) | NA | NA | NA | 0 | 1 (0.50 [–0.25 to 0.69]) | 49 (27.01 ([21.53 to 32.50]) | 55 (25.7 [15.25 to 36.14]) | 40 (21.01 [13.35 to 28.68]) | 37 (34.1 [21.16 to 47.06]) | <.001 | >999.99 (<0.01 to >999.99) | 28.03 (22.06 to 34.00) |
| Changed eating habits, No. (% [95% CI]) | NA | NA | NA | 1 (0.56 [–0.58 to 1.71]) | 1 (0.32 [–0.37 to 1.00]) | 34 (14.56 [10.64 to 18.48]) | 39 (17.40 [9.37 to 25.44]) | 41 (21.64 [13.40 to 29.88]) | 28 (18.65 [10.12 to 27.18]) | <.001 | 58.96 (7.91 to 439.28) | 20.76 (15.20 to 26.32) |
| Ate less sugar, candy, or sweets, No. (% [95% CI]) | NA | NA | NA | 1 (0.17 [–0.19 to 0.52]) | 1 (0.22 [–0.25 to 0.69]) | 29 (15.58 [8.65 to 22.50]) | 30 (16.12 [9.08 to 23.15]) | 38 (22.29 [14.62 to 29.96]) | 28 (23.45 [12.15 to 34.74]) | <.001 | 58.96 (7.91 to 439.28) | 20.76 (15.20 to 26.32) |
| BMI <25 and considered self as having underweight or about the right weight, No. (%) | 1100 (23.93) | 1194 (23.44) | 1184 (24.63) | 1113 (23.97) | 1393 (23.70) | 1451 (23.60) | 1476 (26.82) | 1451 (25.44) | 1333 (23.60) | NA | NA | NA |
| Ate less food, No. (% [95% CI]) | 52 (6.92 [4.17 to 9.59]) | 87 (9.10 [6.23 to 12.01]) | 90 (10.00 [7.32 to 12.76]) | 104 (11.22 [8.54 to 13.91]) | 108 (9.94 [7.64 to 12.24]) | 107 (9.36 [7.64 to 11.09]) | 118 (12.05 [7.82 to 16.29]) | 121 (11.84 [9.54 to 14.21]) | 136 (13.69 [10.16 to 17.24]) | <.001 | 2.29 (1.65 to 3.19) | 5.48 (3.35 to 7.60) |
| Exercised, No. (% [95% CI]) | 51 (4.64 [4.42 to 9.73]) | 81 (10.07 [7.31 to 12.85]) | 92 (9.76 [6.95 to 12.57]) | 105 (12.29 [8.97 to 15.61]) | 125 (12.89 [10.16 to 15.60]) | 140 (12.88 [10.91 to 14.84]) | 160 (14.03 [10.42 to 17.66]) | 169 (15.82 [12.75 to 18.91]) | 177 (15.48 [11.98 to 18.98]) | <.001 | 3.15 (2.28 to 4.35) | 8.64 (6.34 to 10.95) |
| Drank a lot of water, No. (% [95% CI]) | 1 (0.12 [–0.14 to 0.38]) | 33 (3.63 [1.54 to 5.72]) | 48 (5.67 [4.02 to 7.32]) | 58 (6.10 [3.63 to 8.57]) | 62 (6.34 [4.26 to 8.42]) | 67 (5.79 [4.17 to 7.41]) | 118 (5.65 [3.83 to 7.47]) | 34 (8.05 [6.29 to 9.82]) | 113 (9.74 [7.50 to 11.98]) | <.001 | 101.79 (14.19 to 730.13) | 8.39 (6.73 to 10.04) |
| Ate more fruits, vegetables, and/or salads, No. (% [95% CI]) | NA | NA | NA | 1 (0.12 [–0.14 to 0.39]) | 0 | 85 (8.80 [6.64 to 10.96]) | 160 (8.07 [5.76 to 10.38]) | 101 (10.20 [8.24 to 12.18]) | 148 (14.25 [11.22 to 17.19]) | <.001 | 138.88 (19.40 to 994.05) | 11.01 (9.16 to 12.87) |
| Changed eating habits, No. (% [95% CI]) | NA | NA | NA | 0 | 2 (0.27 [–0.12 to 1.22]) | 64 (6.35 [3.95 to 6.59]) | 90 (4.87 [3.07 to 7.59]) | 86 (7.89 [6.01 to 10.28]) | 96 (9.14 [6.14 to 12.23]) | <.001 | 28.68 (9.07 to 90.71) | 6.93 (5.39 to 8.48) |
| Ate less sugar, candy, or sweets, No. (% [95% CI]) | NA | NA | NA | 3 (0.34 [–0.01 to 0.69]) | 2 (0.27 [–0.14 to 0.68]) | 64 (6.35 [4.73 to 7.99]) | 90 (4.87 [3.35 to 6.39]) | 86 (7.89 [5.92 to 9.85]) | 96 (9.14 [6.20 to 12.10]) | <.001 | >999.99 (<0.01 to >999.99) | 7.20 (5.68 to 8.72) |
| BMI ≥25 and considered self as having overweight, No. (%) | 1956 (42.55) | 2133 (41.87) | 2146 (44.63) | 2185 (47.06) | 2762 (46.99) | 3005 (48.86) | 2401 (43.63) | 2702 (47.37) | 2592 (45.88) | NA | NA | NA |
| Ate less food, No. (% [95% CI]) | 628 (33.43 [29.57 to 37.29]) | 812 (38.92 [36.62 to 41.22]) | 835 (39.34 [36.56 to 42.14]) | 928 (42.70 [40.90 to 44.50]) | 1180 (43.24 [40.51 to 45.98]) | 1024 (34.60 [31.10 to 38.10]) | 948 (39.80 [36.48 to 43.11]) | 1102 (41.15 [37.97 to 44.34]) | 1125 (45.56 [42.58 to 48.62]) | <.001 | 1.62 (1.43 to 1.83) | 11.30 (8.46 to 14.14) |
| Exercised, No. (% [95% CI]) | 447 (25.91 [23.79 to 28.03]) | 682 (34.55 [31.55 to 37.55]) | 658 (33.75 [30.81 to 36.71]) | 829 (39.97 [36.50 to 43.44]) | 954 (37.19 [33.41 to 40.97]) | 974 (34.68 [31.97 to 37.40]) | 911 (37.54 [34.41 to 40.67]) | 1050 (38.85 [36.61 to 41.09]) | 1062 (42.12 [37.79 to 46.46]) | <.001 | 2.34 (2.06 to 2.67) | 18.12 (15.40 to 20.83) |
| Drank a lot of water, No. (% [95% CI]) | 5 (0.22 [–0.05 to 0.50]) | 352 (18.53 [14.05 to 23.01]) | 432 (24.45 [21.44 to 27.50]) | 658 (31.15 [27.95 to 34.35]) | 700 (25.67 [22.27 to 29.07]) | 617 (20.67 [17.78 to 23.56]) | 948 (21.72 [19.73 to 23.71]) | 220 (23.74 [21.49 to 25.99]) | 987 37.45 [34.30 to 40.61]) | <.001 | 239.92 (99.40 to 579.10) | 37.82 (35.66 to 39.98) |
| Ate more fruits, vegetables, and/or salads, No. (% [95% CI]) | NA | NA | NA | 5 (0.16 [0.01 to 0.31]) | 8 (0.18 [–0.031 to 0.40]) | 647 (22.15 [19.38 to 24.92]) | 911 (23.23 [20.53 to 25.94]) | 716 (27.10 [24.45 to 29.76]) | 1018 (40.89 [37.78 to 44.00]) | <.001 | 281.92 (116.82 to 680.33) | 39.05 (36.99 to 41.10) |
| Changed eating habits, No. (% [95% CI]) | NA | NA | NA | 4 (0.54 [0.20 to 0.88]) | 23 (0.29 [–0.07 to 0.65]) | 486 (15.88 [13.51 to 18.24]) | 579 (17.16 [15.09 to 19.24]) | 593 (23.42 [21.22 to 25.63]) | 750 (29.00 [25.78 to 32.21]) | <.001 | 221.97 (82.94 to 594.06) | 28.75 (26.84 to 30.66) |
| Ate less sugar, candy, or sweets, No. (% [95% CI]) | NA | NA | NA | 13 (0.18 [–0.02 to 0.38]) | 8 (1.09 [0.48 to 1.71]) | 448 (12.38 [11.10 to 14.05]) | 546 (15.46 [13.54 to 17.37]) | 638 (23.15 [21.04 to 25.26]) | 740 (29.74 [26.55 to 32.92]) | <.001 | 66.76 (38.44 to 115.92) | 27.95 (26.04 to 29.87) |
| BMI ≥25 and considered self as having underweight or about the right weight | 819 (17.81) | 839 (16.47) | 864 (17.97) | 832 (19.63) | 1154 (19.63) | 1237 (20.11) | 1109 (20.15) | 1099 (19.27) | 1266 (22.41) | NA | NA | NA |
| Ate less food, No. (% [95% CI]) | 72 (9.26 [5.61 to 12.92]) | 120 (15.58 [11.52 to 19.63]) | 118 (16.05 [11.79 to 20.32]) | 132 (17.28 [13.65 to 21.12]) | 165 (16.36 [13.24 to 19.49]) | 181 (14.73 [13.38 to 16.09]) | 183 (17.90 [16.00 to 19.81]) | 195 (19.43 [16.84 to 22.02]) | 250 (19.84 [16.79 to 22.89]) | <.001 | 2.55 (1.93 to 3.37) | 10.96 (7.81 to 14.10) |
| Exercised, No. (% [95% CI]) | 65 (11.16 [6.28 to 16.04]) | 118 (17.84 [12.23 to 23.45]) | 108 (17.04 [13.61 to 20.48]) | 112 (16.74 [12.95 to 20.52]) | 154 (16.28 [12.67 to 19.90]) | 189 (16.46 [14.01 to 18.92]) | 212 (21.84 [17.36 to 26.33]) | 223 (22.34 [19.16 to 25.53]) | 299 (24.43 [20.91 to 27.78]) | <.001 | 3.59 (2.70 to 4.77) | 15.68 (12.41 to 18.95) |
| Drank a lot of water, No. (% [95% CI]) | 1 (0.60 [–0.07 to 1.20]) | 39 (7.47 [3.60 to 11.35]) | 51 (8.71 [6.63 to 10.80]) | 79 (11.30 [9.60 to 13.00]) | 105 (10.74 [7.96 to 13.53]) | 97 (8.64 [6.83 to 10.47]) | 183 (11.22 [8.80 to 13.65]) | 33 (11.70 [9.14 to 14.26]) | 218 (18.98 [15.16 to 22.80]) | <.001 | 170.12 (23.81 to >999.99) | 17.10 (14.50 to 19.69) |
| Ate more fruits, vegetables, and/or salads, No. (% [95% CI]) | NA | NA | NA | 0 | 3 (0.47 [–0.15 to 1.08]) | 96 (8.08 [6.21 to 9.96]) | 212 (9.82 [6.50 to 13.14]) | 111 (11.91 [9.17 to 14.65]) | 236 (19.90 [15.60 to 24.20]) | <.001 | >999.99 (<0.01 to >999.99) | 18.64 (15.99 to 21.29) |
| Changed eating habits, No. (% [95% CI]) | NA | NA | NA | 1 (0.09 [–0.10 to 0.28]) | 3 (0.33 [–0.05 to 0.70]) | 79 (5.35 [3.34 to 7.36]) | 106 (9.20 [5.46 to 12.93]) | 95 (12.00 [8.85 to 15.16]) | 151 (13.86 [10.17 to 17.54]) | <.001 | 112.54 (15.72 to 805.73) | 11.81 (9.59 to 14.02) |
| Ate less sugar, candy, or sweets, No. (% [95% CI]) | NA | NA | NA | NA | 1 (0.10 [–0.11 to 0.31]) | 3 (0.19 [–0.08 to 0.47]) | 64 (7.37 [5.27 to 9.47]) | 113 (7.41 [4.17 to 10.66]) | 113 (9.92 [7.55 to 12.30]) | <.001 | 119.35 (16.68 to 854.26) | 12.44 (10.18 to 14.70) |
Abbreviation: BMI, body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared); 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.