Weight Loss Methods of U.S. Adults

Weight Loss Methods Survey Study

In 1993, researchers from the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration in Washington, D.C. did a phone survey 1431 adults (age of 18 or older) with the objective of determining the weight loss practices of U.S. adults trying to lose weight.

The participants were asked about the various weight loss methods they were using in trying to lose weight. Other information related to their demographics and weight-loss history were also asked.

The results found that the average person asked said he or she currently was trying to lose weight for 5-6 months. They also had tried to lose weight on some kind of

plan once in the past 2 years. 71 percent of women and 62 percent of men said they were changing their diet and exercising more in their current attempt to lose weight. Some other weight loss methods involved regular weighing of themselves, drinking diet soft drinks, taking vitamins, taking diet pills, using meal replacements, counting calories, skipping meals, and getting involved in some kind of organized weight loss program.

The results were published in volume 119 of the Annals of Internal Medicine in October 1993.

See: http://www.annals.org/content/119/7_Part_2/661.short

Although this is an older study, looking at today’s current trends of weight loss methods, nothing too much has changed apparently.