95% of Americans have tried to lose weight within the last 5 years

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

DO YOU WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT? IF YOU SAID YES, YOU’RE NOT ALONE.

IN FACT, A RECENT POLL OF 2,000 AMERICANS WHO HAVE TRIED TO LOSE WEIGHT FOUND THAT 95% HAVE TRIED WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

BUT THOSE PLANS HAVEN’T WORKED OUT FOR MANY, AS THE SAME STUDY BY ONEPOLL AND NUTRISYSTEM FOUND 44% ENDED UP GAINING OVER 20 POUNDS IN THAT TIMEFRAME.

THOUGH 72% SAY LOSING WEIGHT THIS YEAR IS A PRIORITY FOR THEM, NEARLY AS MANY (71%) BELIEVE THERE A LOT OF THINGS THAT GET IN THE WAY OF LOSING WEIGHT.

TOP 10 WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGES

• Maintaining willpower - 28%
• Lack of motivation - 27%
• Eating healthy foods - 27%
• Overcoming hunger - 27%
• The pure difficulty of losing weight - 26%    
• The expense associated with weight loss - 25%
• Finding time to work out - 25%
• Not having access to a gym/exercise equipment - 25%
• The amount of time it takes - 23%
• Not having a support system - 22%

Survey methodology:

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 Americans aged 30 and above who have tried to lose weight in the last 5 years was commissioned by Nutrisystem between January 18 and January 23, 2023. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).