Physical activity levels and weight control status by body mass index, among adults – National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2004

Table 1 Characteristics of U.S. adults (≥ 18 years) by weight control status

	Weight control status^a
	Lose weight				Maintain weight				Not trying to lose/maintain weight
	Men		Women		Men		Women		Men		Women
	N^b	%^c	N^b	%^c	N^b	%^c	N^b	%^c	N^b	%^c	N^b	%^c
Total	2,618	38.6	3,748	55.3	618	10.0	553	8.9	3,936	51.4	2,915	35.7
Age group (years) ^d
18–29	562	19.5	953	20.8	140	16.6	124	16.5	1,149	25.9	695	18.2
30–44	607	31.0	932	30.5	138	30.4	142	31.6	911	32.9	609	28.4
45–64	814	35.8	1,170	35.5	180	37.3	139	31.0	929	27.1	703	29.2
≥65	635	13.7	693	13.3	160	15.7	148	20.9	947	14.2	908	24.2
Race/ethnicity ^d
Mexican-American	614	7.7	899	6.9	102	4.5	110	5.3	1,027	9.3	723	7.1
Non-Hispanic white	1,328	73.9	1,736	70.6	372	80.5	346	83.0	1,755	68.4	1,300	68.0
Non-Hispanic black	481	8.9	811	11.9	104	7.3	67	6.2	843	11.2	637	13.0
Other	195	9.5	302	10.7	40	7.6	30	5.6	311	11.1	255	12.0
Education ^d
< High school	769	16.7	1,132	18.5	113	9.5	111	12.1	1,643	26.9	1,168	27.3
High school	610	24.9	946	26.9	138	21.3	117	21.6	992	29.2	725	27.0
> High school	1,237	58.5	1,666	54.6	367	69.2	323	66.3	1,294	43.9	1,018	45.6
Body Mass Index ^d
Normal	421	14.4	909	27.4	155	24.9	251	51.3	1,818	45.1	1,298	49.0
Overweight	1,114	43.9	1,170	31.4	306	49.5	152	25.2	1,446	36.6	871	26.6
Obese	1,083	41.8	1,669	41.3	157	25.6	150	23.6	672	18.3	746	24.4

^a Weight control status refers to: Lose weight refers to those who self-reported trying to lose weight or who lost ≥ 10 pounds in the past year; maintain weight refers to those who self-reported trying not to lose weight and were trying to maintain weight.
^b Unweighted sample size.
^c Percent is weighted. Prevalence estimates are age-adjusted (except for those by age group) to the 2000 U.S. standard population using the age group found in the table.
^d Statistically significant (p < 0.001) by gender.

ISSN: 1479-5868