Trends in Weight Loss Attempts and Strategies Among US Adolescents With Overweight or Obesity
Authors' conclusion
Weight loss attempts increased over time, but clinically meaningful weight loss remained uncommon. Improved access to evidence-based, developmentally appropriate interventions is needed.
Study context
- Population
- US adolescents aged 16–19 years with overweight or obesity, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2023
- Participants
- 2,708 adolescents
- Outcome
- Prevalence of weight loss attempts
- Follow-up
- 1999-2000 to 2021-2023
Methodological detailsnationally representative survey (NHANES 1999-2023), survey-weighted logistic regression
- Nationally representative survey (NHANES 1999-2023)
- Survey-weighted logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Weight loss attempts, 1999-2000
- 53.9%
- Weight loss attempts, 2021-2023
- 65.7%
- Trend
- p for trend < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Clinically meaningful weight loss over prior year (overall)
- ≥5% weight loss
- 26.96%
- ≥10% weight loss
- 12.58%
- ≥0.2 body mass index (BMI) z-score reduction
- 34.34%
Strategies
- Exercise and dietary changes were the most reported strategies
Strategies associated with ≥5% weight loss
- Reducing sugar intake, OR
- 2.16
- Prescription medication use, OR
- 2.55
Strategies associated with ≥10% weight loss
- Prescription medication use, OR
- 3.59
Strategies associated with ≥0.2 BMI z-score reduction
- Sugar intake reduction, OR
- 1.89
- Prescription medication use, OR
- 2.73
Original publication
Trends in Weight Loss Attempts and Strategies Among US Adolescents With Overweight or Obesity. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 5 April 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →