Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Aug 27:46:102873.
doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2024.102873. eCollection 2024 Oct.

Demographic correlates of weight-loss strategies in US adults: Cross-sectional analysis of NHANES data 2017-2020

Amin Mokari-Yamchi  1 , Richard R Rosenkranz  2
Affiliations

Demographic correlates of weight-loss strategies in US adults: Cross-sectional analysis of NHANES data 2017-2020

Amin Mokari-Yamchi et al. Prev Med Rep. .

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the frequency of various weight loss strategies among adults in the United States and to explore which weight-loss strategies are associated with several demographic factors.

Methods: The study utilized 2017-2020 data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Adult participants (N = 3,130) who had tried to lose weight during the past year were included. Pregnant women and individuals under age 20y were excluded. Weight-loss strategies were categorized into 6 groups: consuming more healthy options (e.g., more fruits); consuming less un-healthy options (e.g., junk food); quality of diet changes (e.g., changed eating habits); assisted weight-loss method (e.g., special diet); exercising; and un-healthy strategies (e.g., vomiting). Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95%CIs were calculated using weighted logistic regression models.

Results: The most frequently employed strategies to achieve weight loss were exercising (60.6%), consuming less un-healthy options (60.4%), and drinking a lot of water (55.3%). Un-healthy strategies were less prevalent among older individuals (aOR:0.46 [95% CI:0.37-0.58]) and those with higher incomes (aOR:0.69 [95% CI:0.54-0.89]). Conversely, individuals with obesity class I (aOR:1.85 [95% CI:1.38-2.48]) and obesity class II/III (aOR:1.69 [95% CI:1.27-2.25) showed an increased likelihood of adopting unhealthy strategies. Similarly, widowed individuals (aOR:1.31 [95% CI:1.03-1.66]) and those who have never been married (aOR:1.36 [95% CI:1.09-1.69]) exhibited a higher tendency for such behaviors compared to married individuals.

Conclusion: The likelihood of using various weight-loss methods differs based on demographic characteristics. Recognizing these tendencies can guide public health initiatives and customized strategies for weight control.

Keywords: Adult; Demographic; NHANES; Obesity; Weight loss.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Richard R. Rosenkranz and Amin Mokari report no conflicts of interest related to this research study. This work was conducted without any financial assistance or support from external organizations. They received no funding, grants, or honorariums that could have influenced the research findings or biased the interpretation of the data.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Weight loss strategies utilized by US adults attempting to lose weight in the previous 12 months: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2017–2020.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Akinbami, L. J., Chen, T.-C., Davy, O., Ogden, C. L., Fink, S., Clark, J., Riddles, M. K. & Mohadjer, L. K. 2022. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2017–March 2020 prepandemic file: sample design, estimation, and analytic guidelines. - PubMed
    1. Alfaris N., Alqahtani A.M., Alamuddin N., Rigas G. Global impact of obesity. Gastroenterol. Clin. 2023;52:277–293. - PubMed
    1. Benton D., Young H.A. Reducing calorie intake may not help you lose body weight. Perspect. Psychol. Sci. 2017;12:703–714. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Boutelle K., Neumark-Sztainer D., Story M., Resnick M. Weight control behaviors among obese, overweight, and nonoverweight adolescents. J. Pediatr. Psychol. 2002;27:531–540. - PubMed
    1. CDC, C. F. D. C. A. P. Defining Adult Overweight & Obesity. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/basics/adult-defining.html. [(Accessed on 08 May 2024)].

LinkOut - more resources