Table of Contents

Component Description

The physical activity section (prefix PAQ) includes questions related to daily activities, leisure time activities, and sedentary activities at home.

Eligible Sample

All survey participants 2 or more years of age were eligible. Proxy respondents answered the questions for 2-11 year olds. The questions asked varied by age group. The target group in the codebook indicates which age groups were asked which questions.

Interview Setting and Mode of Administration

For respondents 2 to 11 and 16 or more years of age, the questions were asked before the physical examination, in the home, using the Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing-CAPI (interviewer administered) system.

For respondents 12 to 15 years of age, the questions were asked during the physical examination, at the mobile examination center (MEC).

Data Processing and Editing

The data was split into two files. The first is described here and includes general information about daily activities, leisure time activities, and sedentary activities. The second (PAQIAF_D) includes more detailed information about specific leisure time activities for respondents 12 or more years of age. Sequence number is provided on both files for linking.

Respondents who answered yes to vigorous activities (PAQ200), but did not give at least one vigorous activity, or reported duration of less than 10 minutes, were recoded to no. The same was done for moderate activities (PAQ340).

The number of times in the past 30 days that the respondent did moderately active tasks around the house or yard (PAD120) and muscle strengthening activities (PAD460) were originally reported as number of times per day, per week or per month and converted to number of times over the past 30 days. The average duration of the tasks around the house or yard (PAD160) was originally reported in hours or minutes and converted to minutes. There were a few instances in which the duration per day of tasks around the home or yard was 12 hours or more for the 30 day period. In these instances, PAD120 and PAD160 were set to missing. Users should carefully inspect the data for other values they may consider too high.

Analytic Notes

Since the PAQ questions for respondents 2 to 11 and 16 or more years of age were asked in the home interview, the interview sample weights may be used in their analysis. However, if the data is joined with data from the MEC, the MEC sample weights should be used. Analysis of the PAQ questions for 12 to 15 year olds should use the MEC sample weights as the questions were asked in the MEC.

Suggested metabolic equivalent (MET) scores for the activities listed in this file are included in Appendix 1. They were obtained from the reference below and personal communication with the author.

Please refer to the Analytic Guidelines for further details on the use of sample weights and other analytic issues. The Analytic Guidelines are available on the NHANES website.

References

Codebook and Frequencies

SEQN - Respondent sequence number

Variable Name:
SEQN
SAS Label:
Respondent sequence number
English Text:
Respondent sequence number.
Target:
Both males and females 2 YEARS - 150 YEARS

PAD020 - Walked or bicycled over past 30 days

Variable Name:
PAD020
SAS Label:
Walked or bicycled over past 30 days
English Text:
The next series of questions are about physical activities that {you/SP} {have/has} done over the past 30 days. First I will ask about activities that are related to transportation. Then I'll ask about physical activities that {you/he/she} do at school or in {your/his/her} leisure time. Over the past 30 days, {have/has} {you/SP} walked or bicycled as part of getting to and from work, or school, or to do errands?
English Instructions:
CODE 'UNABLE TO DO' ONLY IF RESPONDENT VOLUNTEERS.
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 2370 2370
2 No 4644 7014 PAQ100
3 Unable to do activity 135 7149 PAQ100
7 Refused 2 7151 PAQ100
9 Don't know 0 7151 PAQ100
. Missing 2273 9424

PAQ050Q - # times walked or bicycled

Variable Name:
PAQ050Q
SAS Label:
# times walked or bicycled
English Text:
[Over the past 30 days], how often did {you/SP} do this? [Walk or bicycle as part of getting to and from work, or school, or to do errands.] PROBE: How many times per day, per week, or per month did {you/s/he} do these activities?
English Instructions:
ENTER NUMBER OF TIMES (PER DAY, WEEK OR MONTH).
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 to 100 Range of Values 2370 2370
77777 Refused 0 2370
99999 Don't know 0 2370
. Missing 7054 9424

PAQ050U - Unit of measure (day/week/month)

Variable Name:
PAQ050U
SAS Label:
Unit of measure (day/week/month)
English Text:
UNIT OF MEASURE.
English Instructions:
ENTER UNIT.
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Day 661 661
2 Week 1071 1732
3 Month 638 2370
7 Refused 0 2370
9 Don't Know 0 2370
. Missing 7054 9424

PAD080 - How long per day (minutes)

Variable Name:
PAD080
SAS Label:
How long per day (minutes)
English Text:
On those days when {you/SP} walked or bicycled, about how long did {you/s/he} spend altogether doing this (minutes)?
English Instructions:
ENTER NUMBER (OF MINUTES).
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 to 600 Range of Values 2363 2363
77777 Refused 0 2363
99999 Don't know 0 2363
. Missing 7061 9424

PAQ100 - Tasks around home/yard past 30 days

Variable Name:
PAQ100
SAS Label:
Tasks around home/yard past 30 days
English Text:
Over the past 30 days, did {you/SP} do any tasks in or around {your/his/her} home or yard for at least 10 minutes that required moderate or greater physical effort? By moderate physical effort I mean, tasks that caused light sweating or a slight to moder ate increase in {your/his/her} heart rate or breathing. [Such as raking leaves, mowing the lawn or heavy cleaning.]
English Instructions:
CODE 'UNABLE TO DO' ONLY IF RESPONDENT VOLUNTEERS
Target:
Both males and females 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 3637 3637
2 No 2362 5999 PAQ180
3 Unable to do activity 138 6137 PAQ180
7 Refused 1 6138 PAQ180
9 Don't know 1 6139 PAQ180
. Missing 3285 9424

PAD120 - # of times past 30 days

Variable Name:
PAD120
SAS Label:
# of times past 30 days
English Text:
[Over the past 30 days], how often did {you/SP} do these tasks in or around {your/his/her} home or yard, that is tasks requiring at least moderate effort? [Such as raking leaves, mowing the lawn or heavy cleaning.] PROBE: How many times per day, per week, or per month did {you/s/he} do these activities?
English Instructions:
ENTER NUMBER (OF TIMES past 30 days).
Target:
Both males and females 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 to 120 Range of Values 3633 3633
77777 Refused 0 3633
99999 Don't know 2 3635
. Missing 5789 9424

PAD160 - How long each time (minutes)

Variable Name:
PAD160
SAS Label:
How long each time (minutes)
English Text:
About how long did {you/SP} do these tasks each time (minutes)?
English Instructions:
IF MORE THAN 1 TASK, ASK FOR TASK DONE MOST OFTEN. ENTER NUMBER (OF MINUTES).
Target:
Both males and females 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
10 to 600 Range of Values 3624 3624
77777 Refused 0 3624
99999 Don't know 0 3624
. Missing 5800 9424

PAQ180 - Avg level of physical activity each day

Variable Name:
PAQ180
SAS Label:
Avg level of physical activity each day
English Text:
Please tell me which of these four sentences best describes {your/SP's} usual daily activities? [Daily activities may include {your/his/her} work, housework if {you are/s/he is} a homemaker, going to and attending classes if {you are/s/he is} a student, and what {you/s/he} normally {do/does} throughout a typical day if {you are/he/she is} a retiree or unemployed.] . . .
English Instructions:
HAND CARD PAQ1
Target:
Both males and females 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 {you sit/he/she sits} during the day and {do/does} not walk about very much. 1399 1399
2 {you stand or walk/he/she stands or walks} about a lot during the day, but {do/does}not have to carry or lift things very often 3120 4519
3 {you/he/she} lift(s) light load or {have/has} to climb stairs or hills often. 1150 5669
4 {you/he/she} {do/does} heavy work or {carry/carries} heavy loads. 464 6133
7 Refused 2 6135
9 Don't know 4 6139
. Missing 3285 9424

PAD200 - Vigorous activity over past 30 days

Variable Name:
PAD200
SAS Label:
Vigorous activity over past 30 days
English Text:
The next questions are about physical activities including exercise, sports, and physically active hobbies that {you/SP} may have done in {your/his/her} leisure time or at school over the past 30 days. First I will ask you about vigorous activities that cause heavy sweating or large increases in breathing or heart rate. Then I will ask you about moderate activities that cause only light sweating or a slight to moderate increase in breathing or heart rate. Over the past 30 days, did {you/SP} do any vigorous activities for at least 10 minutes that caused heavy sweating, or large increases in breathing or heart rate? Some examples are running, lap swimming, aerobics classes or fast bicycling.
English Instructions:
CODE 'UNABLE TO DO' ONLY IF RESPONDENT VOLUNTEERS.
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 3092 3092
2 No 3816 6908
3 Unable to do activity 241 7149
7 Refused 1 7150
9 Don't know 1 7151
. Missing 2273 9424

PAD320 - Moderate activity over past 30 days

Variable Name:
PAD320
SAS Label:
Moderate activity over past 30 days
English Text:
[Over the past 30 days], did {you/SP} do moderate activities for at least 10 minutes that cause only light sweating or a slight to moderate increase in breathing or heart rate? Some examples are brisk walking, bicycling for pleasure, golf, and dancing .
English Instructions:
CODE 'UNABLE TO DO' ONLY IF RESPONDENT VOLUNTEERS.
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 4091 4091
2 No 2891 6982
3 Unable to do activity 166 7148
7 Refused 1 7149
9 Don't know 2 7151
. Missing 2273 9424

PAD440 - Muscle strengthening activities

Variable Name:
PAD440
SAS Label:
Muscle strengthening activities
English Text:
Over the past 30 days, did {you/SP} do any physical activities specifically designed to strengthen {your/his/her} muscles such as lifting weights, push-ups or sit-ups? Include all such activities even if you have mentioned them before.
English Instructions:
CODE 'UNABLE TO DO' ONLY IF RESPONDENT VOLUNTEERS.
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 2574 2574
2 No 4384 6958 PAQ500
3 Unable to do activity 190 7148 PAQ500
7 Refused 1 7149 PAQ500
9 Don't know 2 7151 PAQ500
. Missing 2273 9424

PAD460 - Number of times past 30 days

Variable Name:
PAD460
SAS Label:
Number of times past 30 days
English Text:
[Over the past 30 days], how often did {you/SP} do these physical activities? [Activities designed to strengthen {your/his/her} muscles such as lifting weights, push-ups or sit-ups.]
English Instructions:
ENTER NUMBER OF TIMES (30 days).
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 to 210 Range of Values 2573 2573
777 Refused 0 2573
999 Don't know 1 2574
. Missing 6850 9424

PAQ500 - Activity comparison last mo - last yr

Variable Name:
PAQ500
SAS Label:
Activity comparison last mo - last yr
English Text:
How does the amount of activity that you reported {for SP} for the past 30 days compare with {your/his/her} physical activity for the past 12 months? Over the past 30 days, {were you/was he/she} . . .
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 more active 1529 1529
2 less active, or 1609 3138
3 About the same? 4009 7147
7 Refused 1 7148
9 Don't know 3 7151
. Missing 2273 9424

PAQ520 - Compare activity w/others same age

Variable Name:
PAQ520
SAS Label:
Compare activity w/others same age
English Text:
(MEC Interview Version) Compared with most {boys/girls} {your/SP's} age, would you say that {you are/SP is}... (SP Interview Version) Compared with most {men/boys/women/girls} {your/SP's} age, would you say that {you are/s/he is} . . .
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 more active 2463 2463
2 less active, or 1448 3911
3 About the same? 3164 7075
7 Refused 1 7076
9 Don't Know 75 7151
. Missing 2273 9424

PAQ540 - Compare activity with 10 years ago

Variable Name:
PAQ540
SAS Label:
Compare activity with 10 years ago
English Text:
Compared with {yourself/himself/herself} 10 years ago, would you say that {you are/SP is} . . .
Target:
Both males and females 30 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 More active now, 503 503
2 Less active now, or 2467 2970
3 About the same? 939 3909
7 Refused 1 3910
9 Don't know 2 3912
. Missing 5512 9424

PAQ560 - # time/week you play or exercise hard

Variable Name:
PAQ560
SAS Label:
# time/week you play or exercise hard
English Text:
Now I'd like to ask you some questions about {SP's} activities. How many times per week {does SP} play or exercise enough to make {him/her} sweat and breathe hard?
English Instructions:
IF NEVER, ENTER 0. IF LESS THAN ONCE PER WEEK, ENTER 1. ENTER NUMBER OF TIMES.
Target:
Both males and females 2 YEARS - 11 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 77 Range of Values 2192 2192
77777 Refused 0 2192
99999 Don't know 4 2196
. Missing 7228 9424

PAD590 - # hours watch TV or videos past 30 days

Variable Name:
PAD590
SAS Label:
# hours watch TV or videos past 30 days
English Text:
Over the past 30 days, on average about how many hours per day did {you/SP} sit and watch TV or videos? Would you say...
Target:
Both males and females 2 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Less than 1 hour, 1252 1252
1 1 hour, 1747 2999
2 2 hours, 2556 5555
3 3 hours, 1541 7096
4 4 hours, or 902 7998
5 5 hours or more? 1197 9195
6 None 145 9340
77 Refused 1 9341
99 Don't know 6 9347
. Missing 77 9424

PAD600 - # of hours use computer past 30 days

Variable Name:
PAD600
SAS Label:
# of hours use computer past 30 days
English Text:
Over the past 30 days, on average about how many hours per day did {you/SP} use a computer or play computer games? Would you say...
Target:
Both males and females 2 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Less than 1 hour 2699 2699
1 1 hour 1437 4136
2 2 hours 791 4927
3 3 hours 304 5231
4 4 hours 175 5406
5 5 hours 236 5642
6 None 3698 9340
77 Refused 1 9341
99 Don't know 6 9347
. Missing 77 9424

PAAQUEX - Questionnaire source flag for weighting

Variable Name:
PAAQUEX
SAS Label:
Questionnaire source flag for weighting
English Text:
Questionnaire source flag for weighting
Target:
Both males and females 2 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Sample Person Interview Questionnaire Targets (B(2-11) and (B(16-150) 8335 8335
2 MEC CAPI Questionnaire Targets (B(12-15) 1089 9424
. Missing 0 9424

Appendix 1. Suggested MET Scores

Variable Label Score
PAD020 Walked or bicycled over past 30 days to get to/from work, etc. 4.0
PAQ100 Tasks in or around home or yard past 30 days. 4.5
PAQ180 Average level of physical activity each day (1 - Mainly sit) 1.4
PAQ180 Average level of physical activity each day (2 - Walk a lot) 1.5
PAQ180 Average level of physical activity each day (3 - Carry light loads) 1.6
PAQ180 Average level of physical activity each day (4 - Carry heavy loads) 1.8
PAD440 Muscle strengthening activities 4.0
PAQ560 Number of times per week play or exercise hard 7.0
PAD590  Average number of hours watch TV or videos over past 30 days 1.0
PAD600  Average number of hours used computer over past 30 days 1.5