The widespread cultural focus on body weight and health in the United States has made weight management a prominent public health concern. As obesity and related conditions remain highly prevalent across the country, a large portion of the population engages in proactive measures to reduce their weight. Understanding the scale of this behavior is important for public health planning and for evaluating the efficacy of national health campaigns. Examining population-level weight loss efforts provides a clear picture of American health intentions, which are often driven by a combination of health considerations and societal pressures.
National Estimate of Weight Loss Attempts
National health surveys conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide the most comprehensive data on weight loss efforts among American adults. These estimates, typically collected through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), rely on self-reported data from participants asked if they have attempted to lose weight in the past 12 months. Analyzing data from 2013 to 2016, approximately 49.1% of adults in the United States reported trying to lose weight in the preceding year.
This means nearly one-half of the adult population was actively engaged in a weight loss effort, indicating that weight management is a widespread activity across the country. While the prevalence has fluctuated over time, national data through 2018 suggested an overall long-term rise in the proportion of adults attempting to lose weight.
The methodology of NHANES involves detailed interviews and physical examinations, providing a robust, nationally representative sample for these health statistics. While more recent, definitive national percentages for the 2020s are still being compiled, the trend suggests that the percentage remains significant, hovering around the 50% mark. This consistent level of effort reflects both the persistent concern over rising weight-related health conditions and the strong influence of public health messaging.
Primary Methods Employed by Dieters
The most common strategies reported by individuals attempting to lose weight center around dietary changes and increased physical activity. Data from 2013 to 2016 indicated that exercising and eating less food were the most frequently used approaches, both reported by 62.9% of dieters. This reflects the general understanding that energy balance, through reduced intake and increased expenditure, is foundational to weight reduction.
Analysis of NHANES data from 2017–2020 confirmed the dominance of these general strategies, with exercising (60.6%) and consuming fewer unhealthy options (60.4%) remaining the top two methods. Other highly common approaches include consuming more fruits, vegetables, and salads, reported by over 50% of adults, and deliberately increasing water intake. Approximately 88.3% of those attempting to lose weight reported using two or more methods simultaneously, suggesting a multi-faceted approach is standard.
A recent shift involves the growing interest in pharmacological interventions. Surveys conducted in 2023 showed that nearly half of all adults expressed interest in using safe and effective prescription drugs for weight loss, a figure that climbed to 59% among those actively trying to lose weight. The emergence of highly effective GLP-1 agonists, such as semaglutide, highlights a developing trend where assisted weight loss methods are becoming more accepted and utilized alongside traditional lifestyle modifications.
Demographic Differences in Attempt Rates
The decision to attempt weight loss varies significantly across demographic groups. A pronounced difference exists between genders, with a consistently higher percentage of women (56.4%) reporting weight loss attempts than men (41.7%).
Age also plays a part, with the highest rates observed in middle-aged adults (40 to 59 years old) at 52.4%. This group is closely followed by younger adults (20 to 39) at 49.7%, while the lowest rate was found among older adults (60 and over) at 42.7%.
The strongest predictor of a weight loss attempt is a person’s baseline weight status. The percentage of adults trying to lose weight increases progressively with their Body Mass Index (BMI) category. Individuals classified as overweight or having obesity are significantly more likely to report an attempt to lose weight compared to those within a healthy weight range. This demonstrates that the primary motivation for these efforts is closely tied to clinical weight status.