Background
Little is known about weight control strategies associated with successful weight
loss among obese U.S. adults in the general population.
Purpose
To identify strategies associated with losing at least 5% and 10% of body weight.
Methods
Multivariable analysis of data from obese adult (BMI ≥30) participants in the 2001–2006
NHANES to identify strategies associated with losing ≥5% and ≥10% of body weight (conducted
in 2009–2011).
Results
Of 4021 obese adults, 2523 (63%) reported trying to lose weight in the previous year.
Among those attempting weight loss, 1026 (40%) lost ≥5% and 510 (20%) lost ≥10% weight.
After adjustment for potential confounders, strategies associated with losing ≥5%
weight included eating less fat (OR=1.41, 95% CI=1.14, 1.75); exercising more (OR=1.29,
95% CI=1.05, 1.60); and using prescription weight loss medications (OR=1.77, 95% CI=1.00,
3.13). Eating less fat (OR=1.37, 95% CI=1.04, 1.79); exercising more (OR=1.36, 95%
CI=1.12, 1.65); and using prescription weight loss medications (OR=2.05, 95% CI=1.09,
3.86) were also associated with losing ≥10% weight, as was joining commercial weight
loss programs (OR=1.72, 95% CI=1.00, 2.96). Adults eating diet products were less
likely to achieve 10% weight loss (OR=0.48, 95% CI=0.31, 0.72). Liquid diets, nonprescription
diet pills, and popular diets had no association with successful weight loss.
Conclusions
A substantial proportion of obese U.S. adults who attempted to lose weight reported
weight loss, at least in the short term. Obese adults were more likely to report achieving
meaningful weight loss if they ate less fat, exercised more, used prescription weight
loss medications, or participated in commercial weight loss programs.
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to American Journal of Preventive MedicineAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the U.S., 1999–2004.JAMA. 2006; 295: 1549-1555
- Diet and physical activity behaviors among Americans trying to lose weight: 2000 behavioral risk factor surveillance system.Obes Res. 2005; 13: 596-607
- Attempting to lose weight: specific practices among U.S. adults.Am J Prev Med. 2004; 26: 402-406
- Trying to lose weight: diet strategies among Americans with overweight or obesity in 1996 and 2003.J Am Diet Assoc. 2010; 110: 535-542
- Clinical guidelines on the identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults: the evidence report.NIH, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in cooperation with The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda MDSeptember 1998 (NIH Publication no. 98−4083)
- Benefits of weight loss in the treatment of obesity.Am J Clin Nutr. 1999; 69: 347-349
- Beneficial health effects of modest weight loss.Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1992; 16: 397-415
- Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin.N Engl J Med. 2002; 346: 393-403
- Weight loss with self-help compared with a structured commercial program: a randomized trial.JAMA. 2003; 289: 1792-1798
- Effect of a free prepared meal and incentivized weight loss program on weight loss and weight loss maintenance in obese and overweight women.JAMA. 2010; 304: 1803-1810
- Comparison of the Atkins, Ornish, Weight Watchers, and Zone diets for weight loss and heart disease risk reduction: a randomized trial.JAMA. 2005; 293: 43-53
- Sibutramine produces dose-related weight loss.Obes Res. 1999; 7: 189-198
- Long-term weight loss maintenance.Am J Clin Nutr. 2005; 82: 222S-225S
- Weight-control practices among U.S. adults, 2001–2002.Am J Prev Med. 2006; 31: 18-24
- Attempting to lose weight: specific practices among U.S. adults.Am J Prev Med. 2004; 26: 402-406
- Weight control practices in adults: results of a multistate telephone survey.Am J Public Health. 1994; 84: 1821-1824
- Weight control practices of U.S. adults trying to lose weight.Ann Intern Med. 1993; 119: 661-666
- Practices associated with weight loss versus weight-loss maintenance results of a national survey.Am J Prev Med. 2011; 41: 159-166
- Dietary and physical activity behaviors among adults successful at weight loss maintenance.Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2006; 3: 17
- Weight-related attitudes and behaviors of black women.J Am Diet Assoc. 1993; 93: 416-422
- National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey III, 1988–1994.DHHS, Hyattsville MD1997
- Systematic review: an evaluation of major commercial weight loss programs in the U.S..Ann Intern Med. 2005; 142: 56-66
- Comparison of weight-loss diets with different compositions of fat, protein, and carbohydrates.N Engl J Med. 2009; 360: 859-873
- Can “low-fat” nutrition labels lead to obesity?.J Marketing Res. 2006; 43: 605-617
- The validity of recalled height and past weight among younger women.Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1995; 19: 570-572
- Accuracy of current, 4-year, and 28-year self-reported body weight in an elderly population.Am J Epidemiol. 1990; 132: 1156-1163
- Use and costs of bariatric surgery and prescription weight-loss medications.Health Aff. 2005; 24: 1039-1046
Article info
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
