Special Diets Among Adults: United States, 2015-2018.

To help achieve and maintain a healthy body weight, support nutrient adequacy, and reduce the risk of chronic disease, the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend following a healthy eating pattern across the lifespan (1). Some people adhere to specific eating patterns, otherwise known as special diets, for the purposes of weight loss or other health-related reasons. This report shows the percentage of U.S. adults who, on a given day, were on any special diet and specific types of special diets in 2015-2018 and trends from 2007-2008 through 2017-2018.