Table 2

Most common weight-loss strategies reported among successful losers and unsuccessful weight losers – Styles Survey, 2004


Successful
 Unsuccessful


(n = 543)
 (n = 1,415)
 χ2

n
 %
 (se)a
 %
 (se)a
 p-value
Strategy:





Reduced amount of food
 1,602
 79.60
 (2.21)
 82.39
 (1.19)
 0.268
More fruits & vegetables
 1,325
 71.37
 (2.25)
 65.91
 (1.53)
 0.049
Smaller portions
 1,271
 64.57
 (2.69)
 63.98
 (1.51)
 0.849
Fewer fatty foods
 1,134
 60.13
 (2.68)
 57.66
 (1.55)
 0.425
No sweetened beverages
 1,001
 56.50
 (2.67)
 52.57
 (1.56)
 0.207
Exercise ≥30 min/day
 780
 46.91
 (2.73)
 37.54
 (1.52)
 0.003*
Add physical activity to daily routine
 735
 46.70
 (2.75)
 34.88
 (1.48)
 <0.001*
Reduce high-carbohydrate foods
 882
 40.45
 (2.58)
 45.36
 (1.55)
 0.108
Eat reduced-fat products
 696
 39.61
 (2.70)
 35.10
 (1.51)
 0.147
Reduced-calorie products
 767
 38.50
 (2.61)
 40.35
 (1.56)
 0.542
Reduce food prepared away from home
 702
 36.36
 (2.62)
 37.84
 (1.58)
 0.628
Eat reduced-carbohydrate food products
 521
 26.00
 (2.23)
 26.67
 (1.44)
 0.800
Reduce sedentary activity
 379
 21.96
 (2.12)
 16.97
 (1.17)
 0.039
Count calories
 348
 19.74
 (2.09)
 18.34
 (1.32)
 0.572
Food diary
 251
 12.97
 (1.71)
 13.05
 (1.13)
 0.965
Meal-replacement products
 284
 10.82
 (1.66)
 15.48
 (1.08)
 0.019
Over-the-counter diet products
 273
 10.36
 (1.81)
 15.89
 (1.13)
 0.010*
Formal weight-loss program
 158
 7.37
 (1.48)
 8.47
 (0.81)
 0.514
Web-site with individualized diet plan
 73
 2.60
 (0.64)
 5.33
 (0.92)
 0.016
Not specified
 25
 4.1
 (0.90)
 2.4
 (0.44)
 0.086

a Standard error.

*Significant difference between successful and unsuccessful (p < 0.01).

Kruger et al. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2006 3:17   doi:10.1186/1479-5868-3-17