<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-06-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000896264</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>USANA HEALTH SCIENCES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>USNA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001636301</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Gull Global Ltd</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX N-4899, 2/F BAHAMAS FINANCIAL CTR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SHIRLEY &amp; CHARLOTTE STREETS</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NASSAU</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>C5</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>BH1-1000</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>BAHAMAS</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-06-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>133.7504</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6470110</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The holder of record of the shares of Common Stock disposed is Gull Global Limited, an entity wholly indirectly owned and controlled by Dr. Myron W. Wentz.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The sales reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on March 3, 2014.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Weighted average price. Price range in multiple transactions was $131.20 to $135.49, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide USANA Health Sciences, Inc., any security holder thereof or the staff at the Securities and Exchange Commission information regarding the number of shares sold at each price within the ranges set forth.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James Bramble, as attorney in fact.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-06-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
