title: Weight control practices of U.S. adolescents and adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of various weight-loss practices in U.S. adolescents and adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a self-administered survey of a random sample of high school students in 1990 and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a random-digit dial survey in 1989.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia.
  
  
  METHODS
  High school students (n = 11,467) and adults 18 years and older (n = 60,861).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among high school students, 44% of female students and 15% of male students reported that they were trying to lose weight. An additional 26% of female students and 15% of male students reported that they were trying to keep from gaining more weight. Students reported that they had used the following weight control methods in the 7 days preceding the survey: exercise (51% of female students and 30% of male students); skipping meals (49% and 18%, respectively); taking diet pills (4% and 2%, respectively); and vomiting (3% and 1%, respectively). Among adults, 38% of women and 24% of men reported that they were trying to lose weight, whereas 28% of each sex reported that they were trying to maintain their weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Attempts to lose or maintain weight are very prevalent among both adolescents and adults, especially among females.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Serdula
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Anda
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pamuk
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Byers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States; D015431:Weight Loss