The Weight History section (abbreviated "WHQ" in the NHANES questionnaire variable naming convention scheme) provides personal interview data on several questions related to body weight.
General questions were asked of persons 16+ years of age, questions about weight 10 years ago were asked of persons 36+ years of age, questions about weight and height at age 25 were asked of persons 27+ years of age, questions about maximum lifetime weight were asked of persons 18+ years of age, and questions about minimum weight since age 18 were asked of persons 19+ years of age.
Topics and the target population groups in the WHQ section:
The target samples for questions in this section vary. Please review the questionnaire and codebook carefully. Frequency counts were verified during the preparation of the file.
Data Processing and Preparation
"Other, Specify" responses for WHQ.080 and WHQ100 were recoded, where appropriate, into two additional categories for data release. These categories were "Drank a lot of water" and "Followed a special diet, such as Dr. Atkins, other high protein or low carbohydrate diet, Zone, grapefruit, Pritikin."
The weight reported for WHQ.140 was checked against other reported body weights to ensure that it was the maximum weight reported up to and including the present time. The weight reported for WHQ.160 was checked against other weights to ensure that it
was the minimum weight reported since age 18. When errors were found, WHQ.140 and WHQ.150 (age at maximum weight), and WHQ.160 and WHQ.170 (age at minimum weight) were coded as "Don’t Know" (denoted by 9999 values). For one survey participant, a current height judged to be in error was coded as "Don’t Know." For another survey participant, both current height and height 25 years ago were judged to be in error and were coded as "Don’t Know."
Data Editing
Self-reported height was standardized to inches using the conversion factors 0.3937 inches per centimeter and 12 inches per foot. Current and past self-reported weights were standardized to weight in pounds using the conversion factor 2.2046 pounds per kilogram.
Current weight (WHQ.020) included weight during pregnancy.
A "yes" response to the question, "Was the change between {your/SP’s} current weight and {your/his/her} weight a year ago intentional?" (WHQ.060) incorrectly skipped the interviewer to WHQ.090. A "Yes" response to WHQ.060 should have taken the interviewer to WHQ.080.
For WHQ.150, if maximum weight extended over more than one year, the interviewer recorded the most recent age at which the survey participant reported that weight.
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
39 to 80 | Range of Values | 5860 | 5860 | |
7777 | Refused | 0 | 5860 | |
9999 | Don't know | 179 | 6039 | |
. | Missing | 5 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
60 to 420 | Range of Values | 5902 | 5902 | |
77777 | Refused | 7 | 5909 | |
99999 | Don't know | 130 | 6039 | |
. | Missing | 5 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Overweight, | 2861 | 2861 | |
2 | Underweight, or | 392 | 3253 | |
3 | About the right weight? | 2759 | 6012 | |
7 | Refused | 6 | 6018 | |
9 | Don't know | 21 | 6039 | |
. | Missing | 5 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | More, | 525 | 525 | |
2 | Less, or | 3251 | 3776 | |
3 | Stay about the same? | 2236 | 6012 | |
7 | Refused | 6 | 6018 | |
9 | Don't know | 21 | 6039 | |
. | Missing | 5 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
62 to 420 | Range of Values | 5847 | 5847 | |
77777 | Refused | 5 | 5852 | |
99999 | Don't know | 187 | 6039 | |
. | Missing | 5 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Yes | 508 | 508 | WHQ090 |
2 | No | 376 | 884 | |
7 | Refused | 0 | 884 | |
9 | Don't know | 0 | 884 | |
. | Missing | 5160 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Yes | 1618 | 1618 | |
2 | No | 3889 | 5507 | WHQ090 |
7 | Refused | 8 | 5515 | WHQ090 |
9 | Don't know | 11 | 5526 | WHQ090 |
. | Missing | 518 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 | Ate less food (amount) | 1096 | 1096 | |
77 | Refused | 0 | 1096 | |
99 | Don't know | 1 | 1097 | |
. | Missing | 4947 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
11 | Switched to foods with lower calories | 522 | 522 | |
. | Missing | 5522 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
12 | Ate less fat | 644 | 644 | |
. | Missing | 5400 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
13 | Exercised | 925 | 925 | |
. | Missing | 5119 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
14 | Skipped meals | 307 | 307 | |
. | Missing | 5737 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
15 | Ate diet foods or products | 145 | 145 | |
. | Missing | 5899 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
16 | Used a liquid diet formula such as Slimfast or Optifast | 121 | 121 | |
. | Missing | 5923 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
17 | Joined a weight loss program such as Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Tops, or Overeaters Anonymous | 45 | 45 | |
. | Missing | 5999 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
18 | Took diet pills prescribed by a doctor | 48 | 48 | |
. | Missing | 5996 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
19 | Took other pills, medicines, herbs, or supplements not needing a prescription | 137 | 137 | |
. | Missing | 5907 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
20 | Took laxatives or vomited | 16 | 16 | |
. | Missing | 6028 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
21 | Other (specify) | 51 | 51 | |
. | Missing | 5993 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
22 | Drank a lot of water to lose weight | 14 | 14 | |
. | Missing | 6030 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
23 | Followed a special diet | 11 | 11 | |
. | Missing | 6033 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Yes | 2094 | 2094 | |
2 | No | 3927 | 6021 | WHD110 |
7 | Refused | 7 | 6028 | WHD110 |
9 | Don't know | 11 | 6039 | WHD110 |
. | Missing | 5 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 | Ate less food (amount) | 1370 | 1370 | |
77 | Refused | 0 | 1370 | |
99 | Don't know | 1 | 1371 | |
. | Missing | 4673 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
11 | Switched to foods with lower calories | 719 | 719 | |
. | Missing | 5325 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
12 | Ate less fat | 869 | 869 | |
. | Missing | 5175 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
13 | Exercised | 1138 | 1138 | |
. | Missing | 4906 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
14 | Skipped meals | 327 | 327 | |
. | Missing | 5717 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
15 | Ate diet foods or products | 159 | 159 | |
. | Missing | 5885 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
16 | Used a liquid diet formula such as Slimfast or Optifast | 102 | 102 | |
. | Missing | 5942 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
17 | Joined a weight loss program such as Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Tops, or Overeaters Anonymous | 49 | 49 | |
. | Missing | 5995 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
18 | Took diet pills prescribed by a doctor | 48 | 48 | |
. | Missing | 5996 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
19 | Took other pills, medicines, herbs, or supplements not needing a prescription | 122 | 122 | |
. | Missing | 5922 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
20 | Took laxatives or vomited | 8 | 8 | |
. | Missing | 6036 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
21 | Other (specify) | 61 | 61 | |
. | Missing | 5983 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
22 | Drank a lot of water to not gain weight | 13 | 13 | |
. | Missing | 6031 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
23 | Followed a special diet to not gain weight | 11 | 11 | |
. | Missing | 6033 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
70 to 360 | Range of Values | 3359 | 3359 | |
77777 | Refused | 3 | 3362 | |
99999 | Don't know | 56 | 3418 | |
. | Missing | 2626 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
66 to 400 | Range of Values | 4019 | 4019 | |
77777 | Refused | 2 | 4021 | |
99999 | Don't know | 239 | 4260 | |
. | Missing | 1784 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
39 to 79 | Range of Values | 2270 | 2270 | |
7777 | Refused | 1 | 2271 | |
9999 | Don't know | 146 | 2417 | |
. | Missing | 3627 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
80 to 450 | Range of Values | 5219 | 5219 | |
77777 | Refused | 4 | 5223 | |
99999 | Don't know | 220 | 5443 | |
. | Missing | 601 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 to 84 | Range of Values | 5155 | 5155 | |
85 | 85 or older | 29 | 5184 | |
77777 | Refused | 13 | 5197 | |
99999 | Don't know | 246 | 5443 | |
. | Missing | 601 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
60 to 345 | Range of Values | 4874 | 4874 | |
77777 | Refused | 1 | 4875 | |
99999 | Don't know | 279 | 5154 | |
. | Missing | 890 | 6044 |
Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
---|---|---|---|---|
18 to 84 | Range of Values | 4837 | 4837 | |
85 | 85 or older | 27 | 4864 | |
77777 | Refused | 11 | 4875 | |
99999 | Don't know | 279 | 5154 | |
. | Missing | 890 | 6044 |