New Release on Attempts to Lose Weight Among Adolescents Aged 16–19 in the United States, 2013–2016

Attempts to Lose Weight Among Adolescents Aged 16–19 in the United States, 2013–2016

Key Findings
Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey:

• In 2013–2016, 37.6% of adolescents aged 16–19 tried to lose weight in the past year. Weight loss attempts were higher among adolescent girls (45.2%) compared with adolescent boys (30.1%).
• A higher percentage of Hispanic adolescents (50.8%) tried to lose weight than non-Hispanic white (33.1%), non-Hispanic black (31.8%), and non-Hispanic Asian (28.4%) adolescents among both girls and boys.
• The percentage of adolescents who tried to lose weight increased with weight status category among both adolescent boys and girls.
• Among adolescents who tried to lose weight, the most commonly reported way was exercising (83.5%).

Keywords

​obesity, weight loss methods, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

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Weight Loss Attempts Were Higher Among Adolescent Girls Compared with Adolescent Boys