A system and method for adaptively controlling feedback information according to a loading condition of a communications cell is provided. A method comprises receiving an indication from a base station, computing an amount of feedback information to transmit back to the base station using the indication, locating a feedback resource assigned to the mobile station using the amount of feedback information and an identity of the mobile station, computing a feedback information, and transmitting the feedback information using the located feedback resource. The indication is for a set of candidate transmission formats that is based on loading conditions in the cell.