Guide for Data Users
This guide provides links to NHIS adult physical activity information, including questionnaires, documentation, data file information, SAS/SPSS/Stata input statements, and data sets for each data year in which NHIS adult physical activity questions were asked.
NHIS data collection technology has changed over the years with resulting changes in terminology and the display of survey information. Terminology used on the NHIS website for the three major NHIS data collection periods — 2004 to present, 1997-2003, and 1975-1995 — is summarized here.
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Survey Information
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Terminology used 2004-present
|
Terminology used 1997-2003
|
Terminology used 1975-1995
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Questionnaire |
English/Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards) |
Survey Questionnaires |
Current Estimates (Tables and Questionnaires) |
|
Documentation |
Variable Layout |
Dataset Documentation |
File Layouts |
|
Data File Information |
README File |
README File |
README File |
|
Sample Program Code |
SAS, SPSS, and Stata Input Statements |
SAS and SPSS Input Statements* |
SAS Input Statements |
|
Data |
ASCII Data |
Datasets |
Datasets |
* Stata input statements were first provided for the 2002 data year.
Notice to data users using 64-bit computers running Microsoft operating systems:
NHIS Public Use data sets from 1970-2005 with the .exe file type are unable to be extracted on 64-bit computers running Microsoft operating systems. Data users are advised to rename the .exe files as .zip files and the data sets will extract correctly. This workaround is suggested for data years 1970-2005. Beginning with 2010 data year, ASCII files are being released as .zip files.
2004 to Present
Beginning in 2004 and continuing to the present, all NHIS survey information can be accessed from the page titled Questionnaires, Datasets, and Related Documentation, 1997 to (current data year). Links to questionnaires and other survey-related documents are found by scrolling down to the year of interest. For data and documentation (other than the questionnaires and the survey description), click on “Data Release” for the year of interest and click on appropriate links indicated below.
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2016
|
Sample Adult Core
|
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards) |
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2015
|
Sample Adult Cancer Supplement
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|---|---|
| Questionnaire | English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards) |
| Documentation | Variable Layout Variable Frequencies |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | ASCII data (cancerxx.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (cancerxx.sas) SPSS statements (cancerxx.sps) Stata statements (cancerxx.do) |
|
2015
|
Sample Adult Core
|
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards) |
| Documentation | Variable Layout Variable Frequencies |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | ASCII data (samadult.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (samadult.sas) SPSS statements (samadult.sps) Stata statements (samadult.do) |
|
2014
|
Sample Adult Core
|
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards) |
| Documentation | Variable Layout Variable Frequencies |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | ASCII data (samadult.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (samadult.sas) SPSS statements (samadult.sps) Stata statements (samadult.do) |
|
2013
|
Sample Adult Core
|
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards) |
| Documentation | Variable Layout Variable Frequencies |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | ASCII data (samadult.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (samadult.sas) SPSS statements (samadult.sps) Stata statements (samadult.do) |
|
2012
|
Sample Adult Core
|
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards) |
| Documentation | Variable Layout Variable Frequencies |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | ASCII data (samadult.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (samadult.sas) SPSS statements (samadult.sps) Stata statements (samadult.do) |
|
2012
|
Sample Adult Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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|---|---|
| Questionnaire | English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards) |
| Documentation | Variable Layout Variable Frequencies |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | ASCII data (althealt.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (althealt.sas) SPSS statements (althealt.sps) Stata statements (althealt.do) |
|
2011
|
Sample Adult Core
|
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards) |
| Documentation | Variable Layout Variable Frequencies |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | ASCII data (samadult.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (samadult.sas) SPSS statements (samadult.sps) Stata statements (samadult.do) |
|
2010
|
Sample Adult Core
|
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards) |
| Documentation | Variable Layout Variable Frequencies |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | ASCII data (samadult.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (samadult.sas) SPSS statements (samadult.sps) Stata statements (samadult.do) |
|
2010
|
Sample Adult Cancer Supplement
|
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards) |
| Documentation | Variable Layout Variable Frequencies |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | ASCII data (cancerxx.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (cancerxx.sas) SPSS statements (cancerxx.sps) Stata statements (cancerxx.do) |
|
2009
|
Sample Adult Core
|
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards) |
| Documentation | Variable Layout Variable Frequencies |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | ASCII data (samadult.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (samadult.sas) SPSS statements (samadult.sps) Stata statements (samadult.do) |
|
2008
|
Sample Adult Core
|
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards) |
| Documentation | Variable Layout Variable Frequencies |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | ASCII data (samadult.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (samadult.sas) SPSS statements (samadult.sps) Stata statements (samadult.do) |
|
2007
|
Sample Adult Core
|
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards) |
| Documentation | Variable Layout Variable Frequencies |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | ASCII data (samadult.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (samadult.sas) SPSS statements (samadult.sps) Stata statements (samadult.do) |
| 2007 | Adult Alternative Medicine (ALT) Supplement |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards) |
| Documentation | Variable Layout Variable Frequencies |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | ASCII data (althealt.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (althealt.sas) SPSS statements (althealt.sps) Stata statements (althealt.do) |
| 2006 | Sample Adult Core |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards) |
| Documentation | Variable Layout Variable Frequencies |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | ASCII data (samadult.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (samadult.sas) SPSS statements (samadult.sps) Stata statements (samadult.do) |
| 2005 | Sample Adult Core |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards) |
| Documentation | Variable Layout Variable Frequencies |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | ASCII data (samadult.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (samadult.sas) SPSS statements (samadult.sps) Stata statements (samadult.do) |
| 2005 | Sample Adult Cancer Supplement |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards) |
| Documentation | Variable Layout Variable Frequencies |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | ASCII data (cancerxx.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (cancerxx.sas) SPSS statements (cancerxx.sps) Stata statements (cancerxx.do) |
| 2004 | Sample Adult Core |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards) |
| Documentation | Variable Layout Variable Frequencies |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | ASCII data (samadult.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (samadult.sas) SPSS statements (samadult.sps) Stata statements (samadult.do) |
1997-2003
During the period 1997-2003, all survey-related information is accessed directly from the page titled Questionnaires, Datasets, and Related Documentation, 1997 to (current data year). Scroll down to the data year of interest and click on the appropriate links, indicated below.
| 2003 | Sample Adult Core |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Survey Questionnaires (qsamadlt.pdf) |
| Documentation | Dataset Documentation (samadult.pdf) |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | Datasets (samadult.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (samadult.sas) SPSS statements (samadult.sps) Stata statements (samadult.do) |
| 2002 | Sample Adult Core |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Survey Questionnaires (qsamadlt.pdf) |
| Documentation | Dataset Documentation (samadult.pdf) |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | Datasets (samadult.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (samadult.sas) SPSS statements (samadult.sps) Stata statements (samadult.do) |
| 2002 | Sample Adult Alternative Medicine (ALT) Supplement* |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Survey Questionnaires (qsamadlt.pdf) |
| Documentation | Dataset Documentation (althealt.pdf) |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | Datasets (althealt.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (althealt.sas) SPSS statements (althealt.sps) Stata statements (althealt.do) |
* NOTE: The Alternative Health Supplement questionnaire and the Sample Adult Core questionnaire are combined. However, all other related data and documentation are separate.
| 2001 | Sample Adult Core |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Survey Questionnaires (qsamadlt.pdf) |
| Documentation | Dataset Documentation (samadult.pdf) |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | Datasets (samadult.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (samadult.sas) SPSS statements (samadult.sps) |
| 2000 | Sample Adult Core |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Survey Questionnaires (qsamadlt.pdf) |
| Documentation | Dataset Documentation (samadult.pdf) |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | Datasets (samadult.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (samadult.sas) SPSS statements (samadult.sps) |
| 2000 | Sample Adult Cancer Supplement* |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Survey Questionnaires (qcancerx.pdf) |
| Documentation | Dataset Documentation (samadult.pdf) |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | Datasets (samadult.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (samadult.sas) SPSS statements (samadult.sps) |
* NOTE: The Sample Adult Cancer Supplement questionnaire and the Sample Adult (core) questionnaire are separate. However all other related data and documentation are combined with the Sample Adult files.
| 1999 | Sample Adult Core |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Survey Questionnaires (qsamadlt.pdf) |
| Documentation | Dataset Documentation (samadult.pdf) |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | Datasets (samadult.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (samadult.sas) SPSS statements (samadult.sps) |
| 1998 | Sample Adult Core |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Survey Questionnaires (qsamadlt.pdf) |
| Documentation | Dataset Documentation (samadult.pdf) |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | Datasets (samadult.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (samadult.sas) SPSS statements (samadult.sps) |
| 1998 | Sample Adult Prevention Supplement |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Survey Questionnaires (qprevsad.pdf) |
| Documentation | Dataset Documentation (prevadlt.pdf) |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | Datasets (prevadlt.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (prevadlt.sas) SPSS statements (prevadlt.sps) |
| 1997 | Sample Adult Core |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Survey Questionnaires (qsamadlt.pdf) |
| Documentation | Dataset Documentation (samadult.pdf) |
| Data File Information | Readme File Survey Description |
| Data | Datasets (samadult.zip) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (samadult.sas) SPSS statements (samadult.sps) |
1975-1995
For 1975-1995, survey information is organized by data year in descending order. Links to most documents for these years are provided below. All NHIS survey information for this period can also be accessed from the page titled Internet-Available Datasets and Related Documentation 1996-Prior. Note that, unlike later years, questionnaires are located in appendix III of Current Estimates reports for each of these years. These reports are large and may take some time to download.
| 1995 | Year 2000 Objectives Supplement |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III) |
| Documentation | File Layouts (YEAR2000.PDF) |
| Data File Information | Readme File |
| Dataset | Datasets (YEAR2000.ZIP) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (YEAR2000.SAS) |
| 1994 | Year 2000 Objectives Supplement |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III) |
| Documentation: | File Layouts (YEAR2000.PDF) |
| Data File Information | Readme File |
| Dataset | Datasets (YEAR2000.ZIP) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (YEAR2000.SAS) |
| 1994 | Disability Followback Survey (DFS-3) Supplement on Aging Questionnaire* |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III) |
| Documentation | File Layouts (SOA2PUXX.PDF) |
| Data File Information | Readme File |
| Dataset | Datasets (SOA2PUXX.ZIP) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (SOA2PUXX.SAS) |
* NOTE: Physical activity questions identical to those included in the Supplement on Aging were also asked of adults aged 70 years and over in Section M of the Disability Follow-back (DFS-2) Adults Questionnaire. Data from the two questionnaires were combined and released in the DFS-3 data file.
| 1993 | Year 2000 Objectives Supplement |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III) |
| Documentation | File Layouts (YEAR2000.PDF) |
| Data File Information | Readme File |
| Dataset | Datasets (YEAR2000.ZIP) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (YEAR2000.SAS) |
| 1991 | Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (2000 Objectives) |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III) |
| Documentation | File Layouts (HPDPSAMP.PDF) |
| Data File Information | Readme File |
| Dataset | Datasets (HPDPSAMP.ZIP) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (HPDPSAMP.SAS) |
| 1990 | Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Supplement (1990 CAPI Supplement) |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III) |
| Documentation | File Layouts (HPDPSAMP.pdf) |
| Data File Information | Readme File |
| Dataset | Datasets (HPDPSAMP.ZIP) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (HPDPSAMP.SAS) |
| 1988 | Occupational Health Supplement |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III) |
| Documentation | File Layouts (OCHEALTH.PDF) |
| Data File Information | Readme File |
| Dataset | Datasets (OCHEALTH.ZIP) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (OCHEALTH.SAS) |
| 1985 | Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Supplement |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III) |
| Documentation | File Layouts (HPDPSAMP.PDF) |
| Data File Information | Readme File |
| Dataset | Datasets (HPDPSAMP.ZIP) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (HPDPSAMP.SAS) |
| 1984 | Supplement on Aging |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III) |
| Documentation | File Layouts (SOAGEPER.PDF) |
| Data File Information | Readme File |
| Dataset | Datasets (SOAGEPER.ZIP) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS statements (SOAGEPER.SAS) |
| 1983 | Alcohol and Health Practices Supplement |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III) |
| Documentation | File Layouts (ALCOHOLH.PDF) |
| Data File Information | Readme File |
| Dataset | Datasets (ALCOHOLH.ZIP) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS Input Statements (ALCOHOLH.SAS) |
| 1977 | Health Habits (H1) Supplement |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III) |
| Documentation | File Layouts (H1SUPPLT.PDF) |
| Data File Information | Readme File |
| Dataset | Datasets (H1SUPPLT.ZIP) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS Input Statements (H1SUPPLT.SAS) |
| 1975 | Physical Fitness Supplement |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III) |
| Documentation | File Layouts (PHYSFITN.PDF) |
| Data File Information | Readme File |
| Dataset | Datasets (PHYSFITN.ZIP) |
| Sample Program Code | SAS Input Statements (PHYSFITN.SAS) |