Changes in Body Weight Among People With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in the United States, NHANES 2005-2012

Purpose To understand weight loss strategies, weight changes, goals, and behaviors in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and whether these differ by ethnicity. Methods T2DM was identified by self-reported diagnosis using the NHANES 2005-2012 data, which also included measured and self-reported current body weight and height, self-reported weight the prior year, and self-reported aspired weight. Nineteen weight loss strategies were evaluated for association with 5% weight loss or weight gain versus <5% weight change. Results Among people with T2DM, 88.0% were overweight/obese (body mass index [BMI] 25 kg/m(2)) in the prior year and 86.1% the current year. About 60% of the overweight/obese took weight loss actions, mostly using diet-related methods with average weight lost <5%. Two most effective methods reported (smoking, taking laxatives/vomiting) are also potentially most harmful. Similar BMI distributions but different goals and behaviors about weight and weight loss were observed across ethnicity. Only physical activity meeting the recommended level and changing eating habits were consistently associated with favorable and statistically significant weight change. Conclusions Weight management in T2DM is an ongoing challenge, regardless of ethnicity/race. Among overweight/obese T2DM subjects, recommended level of physical activity and changing eating habits were associated with statistically significant favorable weight change.