Intentional weight control and food choice habits in a national representative sample of adults in the UK

OBJECTIVE: To establish the association between intentional weight control and specific eating behaviours. DESIGN: An interview-based survey of a representative sample of the UK popu lation including questions about demographic characteristics, weight and he ight, intentional weight control and eating behaviours, Associations among the eating behaviours, and between weight control and eating behaviours, we re examined. SUBJECTS: 1894 men and women completed the interview (70% response rate). RESULTS: Approximately equal proportions of the sample were 'not bothered a bout weight' (30%), 'watching their weight' (36%), or 'trying to lose weigh t' (28%). More men were 'not bothered' and more women were 'trying to lose' . people who were trying to lose or were watching their weight were more li kely to report restricting fats, sugars, snacks, and the amount eaten at me als, than those who were not bothered, but there were no differences betwee n weight watchers and weight losers. The overall level of restriction among weight losers was modest. There were no group differences in eating breakf ast, fruits or vegetables, skipping meals or fasting. CONCLUSIONS: Around two-thirds of the adult population of the UK appear to be concerned about weight control, and this is reflected in somewhat higher than average adherence to recommended restrictive dietary habits.