NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 313 ■ July 2018

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Attempts to Lose Weight Among Adults in the 

United States, 2013–2016

 Crescent B. Martin, M.P.H., M.A., Kirsten A. Herrick, Ph.D., M.Sc., Neda Sarafrazi, Ph.D., and 

Cynthia L. Ogden, Ph.D., M.R.P.

Key findings

Data from the National 

Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey

● In 2013–2016, 49.1% of

U.S. adults tried to lose weight

in the last 12 months.

● A higher percentage of

women (56.4%) than men

(41.7%) tried to lose weight.

● A lower percentage of

non-Hispanic Asian adults

(41.4%) than non-Hispanic

white (49.4%), non-Hispanic

black (48.0%), and Hispanic

(49.1%) adults tried to lose

weight.

● The percentage of adults

who tried to lose weight 

increased with family income 

and with weight status category.

● Among adults who tried

to lose weight, the most 

commonly reported methods 

were exercising (62.9%) and 

eating less food (62.9%), 

followed by consuming more 

fruits, vegetables, and salads 

(50.4%).

Almost 40% of adults in the United States had obesity in 2015–2016 (1). 

Obesity is associated with a range of serious health risks (2). Individuals may 

have multiple motivations for trying to losing weight, including health and 

appearance reasons (3). This report describes the percentage of U.S. adults 

who tried to lose weight in the past year by sex, age, race and Hispanic origin, 

family income, and weight status, based on data collected in the National 

Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2013–2016.

Keywords: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey • weight loss • 

NHANES

What percentage of adults tried to lose weight in 2013–2016?

● Nearly one-half (49.1%) of adults tried to lose weight within the last 12

months (Figure 1).

49.1

42.7

1

49.7

1

52.4

1

59.3 1

60.2

45.1 2

41.7 2

40.5

2

44.1 2

39.9

56.4

Figure 1. Percentage of adults aged 20 and over who tried to lose weight, by sex and age: 

United States, 2013–2016

 

Access data table for Figure 1 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db313_table.pdf#1.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013–2016. Percent

20 and over 20–39 40–59 60 and over

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

All Men Women
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 313 ■ July 2018

■  2  ■

● A lower percentage of older adults aged 60 and over (42.7%) tried to lose weight than 

younger adults aged 20–39 (49.7%) and middle-aged adults aged 40–59 (52.4%). No 

significant difference was observed between younger and middle-aged adults. 

● Among women, the pattern by age was similar to the overall adult population. Among men, 

no significant differences were observed by age group.

● A higher percentage of women (56.4%) than men (41.7%) tried to lose weight, overall and 

within each age group.

Were there differences in the percentage of adults who tried to lose weight 

by race and Hispanic origin in 2013–2016?

● The percentage of non-Hispanic Asian adults (41.4%) who tried to lose weight was lower 

compared with non-Hispanic white (49.4%), non-Hispanic black (48.0%), and Hispanic 

(49.1%) adults (Figure 2). 

● The pattern among women was similar to the overall adult population. A lower percentage 

of non-Hispanic Asian women (44.8%) tried to lose weight than did non-Hispanic white 

(56.9%), non-Hispanic black (56.4%), and Hispanic (57.2%) women.

● Among men, the percentage who tried to lose weight was lower among non-Hispanic black 

(37.9%) than non-Hispanic white (42.1%) or Hispanic (41.1%) men. 

Figure 2. Age-adjusted percentage of adults aged 20 and over who tried to lose weight, by sex and race and Hispanic 

origin: United States, 2013–2016

 

NOTES: All estimates are age adjusted by the direct method to the 2000 U.S. census population using the age groups 20–39, 40–59, and 60 and over. Access 

data table for Figure 2 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db313_table.pdf#2.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013–2016. Percent

Non-Hispanic white Non-Hispanic black Non-Hispanic Asian Hispanic

70

50

40

30

All Men Women

49.4 49.1 48.0

1–341.4

56.4

44.8

57.2

4

42.1

1,437.9 37.5

2,441.1

56.9 60

20

10

0

1–3

4
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 313 ■ July 2018

■  3  ■

● Within each race and Hispanic-origin group, a higher percentage of women than men tried 

to lose weight.

Were there differences in the percentage of adults who tried to lose weight 

by family income in 2013–2016?

● The percentage of adults who tried to lose weight increased with family income level. 

● Overall, 53.7% of adults with higher family income (greater than 350% of federal poverty 

level [FPL]), 48.7% of adults with middle family income (greater than 130% to less than or 

equal to 350% of FPL), and 42.9% of adults with lower family income (less than or equal to 

130% of FPL) tried to lose weight (Figure 3). 

● Similar patterns were observed among both men and women. 

● Within each income group, a higher percentage of women than men tried to lose weight.

Figure 3. Age-adjusted percentage of adults aged 20 and over who tried to lose weight, by sex and family income: 

United States, 2013–2016

1

 

 

 

 

 

70

 

 

40

 

20

10

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

W 

 

 

 

NOTES: FPL is federal poverty level. All estimates are age adjusted by the direct method to the 2000 U.S. census population using the age groups 20–39, 40–59, 

and 60 and over. Access data table for Figure 3 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db313_table.pdf#3.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013–2016.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 313 ■ July 2018

■  4  ■

Were there differences in the percentage of adults who tried to lose weight, 

by weight status in 2013–2016?

● The percentage of adults who tried to lose weight increased with weight status category, 

overall and among both men and women.

● Overall, 66.7% of adults with obesity, 49.0% of overweight adults, and 26.5% of 

underweight or normal weight adults tried to lose weight (Figure 4).

● Within each weight status category, a higher percentage of women than men tried to lose 

weight.

Figure 4. Age-adjusted percentage of adults aged 20 and over who tried to lose weight, by sex and weight status: 

United States, 2013–2016

1

 

NOTES: All estimates are age adjusted by the direct method to the 2000 U.S. census population using the age groups 20–39, 40–59, and 60 and over. Access 

data table for Figure 4 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db313_table.pdf#4.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013–2016. Percent

Underweight or normal weight Overweight Obese

70

80

60

50

40

30

20

10

All1 Men1 omen1

26.5

66.7

49.0

59.9

71.2

14.4

2

41.2

2

61.5

35.6

0

W

2
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 313 ■ July 2018

■ 5  ■

What ways to lose weight were reported by adults who tried to lose weight 

in 2013–2016? 

Among adults who tried to lose weight, the most commonly reported ways were exercising 

(62.9%); eating less food (62.9%); eating more fruits, vegetables, and salads (50.4%); drinking a 

lot of water (44.7%); and eating less junk food or fast food (42.4%) (Figure 5). 

Figure 5. Ways of trying to lose weight used by adults aged 20 and over who tried to lose weight: United States, 

2013–2016

NOTES: Respondents could report multiple ways to lose weight; 88.3% of adults who tried to lose weight reported using two or more ways. Ways reported by less 

than 10% of adults who tried to lose weight are not shown separately. Access data table for Figure 5 at: 

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db313_table.pdf#5.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013–2016.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Percent

Exercised 

Ate less 

Ate less junk food or fast food

Changed eating habits

Ate less sugar, candy, or sweets

Switched to foods with lower calories

Ate fewer carbohydrates

Ate less fat 

Skipped meals

Drank a lot of water

Ate more fruits, vegetables, or salads

62.9

62.9

50.4

44.7

42.4

38.7

38.6

35.3

30.4

29.2

16.4
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 313 ■ July 2018

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Summary

In 2013–2016, almost one-half of U.S. adults tried to lose weight within the last year. A higher 

percentage of younger adults aged 20–39 and middle-aged adults aged 40–59 tried to lose weight, 

compared with older adults aged 60 and older. A higher percentage of women than men tried to 

lose weight, overall and within each age group. 

Patterns by race and Hispanic origin differed between men and women. Among women, a lower 

percentage of non-Hispanic Asian women tried to lose weight, compared with all other race and 

Hispanic-origin groups. Among men, a lower percentage of non-Hispanic black men tried to lose 

weight than did non-Hispanic white men or Hispanic men. 

The percentage of adults who tried to lose weight increased with family income and with weight 

status. Among adults who tried to lose weight, the most commonly reported ways were exercising 

(62.9%) and eating less food (62.9%). A majority of adults who tried to lose weight reported 

using two or more methods (88.3%).

Definitions

Tried to lose weight: Based on two questions. Participants whose self-reported current weight 

was at least 10 pounds lower than their reported weight a year ago were asked if that weight 

change was intentional; those who answered yes were categorized as having tried to lose weight. 

All other participants, including those who reported an unintentional weight loss of 10 pounds or 

more, were asked directly, “During the past 12 months, have you tried to lose weight?”

Federal poverty level (FPL): Based on the income-to-poverty ratio, a measure of the annual total 

family income divided by the poverty guidelines, adjusted for family size and inflation. 

Weight status: Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as measured weight in kilograms divided 

by measured height in meters squared, rounded to one decimal place. Overweight was defined as 

a BMI greater than or equal to 25 and less than 30. Obesity was defined as a BMI greater than or 

equal to 30. Normal or underweight was defined as a BMI less than 25.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 313 ■ July 2018

■  7  ■

Data source and methods

NHANES is a cross-sectional survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics 

designed to monitor the health and nutritional status of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. 

population (4). It consists of home interviews followed by standardized physical examinations, 

including measured height and weight, in mobile examination centers.

The NHANES sample is selected through a complex, multistage probability design. In 

2013–2016, non-Hispanic black, non-Hispanic Asian, and Hispanic persons were oversampled; 

for more information, visit the NHANES website. Race and Hispanic origin-specific estimates 

reflect individuals reporting only one race; those reporting more than one race are included in the 

total but are not reported separately. Pregnant females were excluded from analyses.

Examination weights were used to account for the differential probabilities of selection, 

nonresponse, and noncoverage. Taylor series linearization was used to compute variance 

estimates. Prevalence estimates for the adult population aged 20 and over were age adjusted 

using the direct method to the 2000 projected U.S. census population using the age groups 20–39, 

40–59, and 60 and over. Differences between groups were tested using a univariate t statistic. 

Test for trends by family income and weight status were evaluated using orthogonal polynomials 

to determine linear trends. The significance level for statistical testing was set at p < 0.05. All 

differences reported are statistically significant unless otherwise indicated. Data management and 

statistical analyses were conducted using SAS System for Windows version 9.4 (SAS Institute, 

Inc., Cary, N.C.) and SUDAAN version 11.0 (RTI International, Research Triangle Park, N.C.).

About the authors

Crescent B. Martin was a student volunteer with CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, 

Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys and a graduate student at the George 

Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health during the analysis and writing 

of this report. Kirsten A. Herrick, Neda Sarafrazi, and Cynthia L. Ogden are with the National 

Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. 

References

1. Hales CM, Carroll MD, Fryar CD, Ogden CL. Prevalence of obesity among adults and youth: 

United States, 2015–2016. NCHS Data brief, no 288. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health 

Statistics. 2017.

2. National Institutes of Health. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Clinical guidelines 

on the identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults—The 

evidence report. Obes Res 6(Suppl 2):51s–209s. 1998.

3. Levy AS, Heaton AW. Weight control practices of U.S. adults trying to lose weight. Ann 

Intern Med 119(7 Pt 2):661–6. 1993.

4. Johnson CL, Dohrmann SM, Burt VL, Mohadjer LK. National Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey: Sample design, 2011–2014. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital 

Health Stat 2(16 2). 2014.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 313 ■ July 2018

Suggested citation

Martin CB, Herrick KA, Sarafrazi N, Ogden 

CL. Attempts to lose weight among adults in

the United States, 2013–2016. NCHS Data

Brief, no 313. Hyattsville, MD: National

Center for Health Statistics. 2018.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in 

the public domain and may be reproduced 

or copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health 

Statistics

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., M.B.A., Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Health and Nutrition 

Examination Surveys

Kathryn S. Porter, M.D., M.S., Director

Ryne Paulose-Ram, M.A., Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

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