Table of Contents

Component Description

The Weight History section of the Mobile Examination Center (MEC) Interview (variable name prefix WHQMEC) provides personal interview data on topics related to body weight in adolescents 8-15 years of age. These topics include self-perception of weight, reasons for losing weight, and methods used to lose weight.

Eligible Sample

The target sample for the questions in this section is adolescents, age 8-15 years. Frequency counts were verified during the preparation of the file.

Interview Setting and Mode of Administration

The questions were asked in the MEC Interview, using an interviewer-administered Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) system.

Proxy respondents were not permitted for this section.

For details on the administration of the Weight History 8-15 years (WHQMEC_E) section, please refer to the NHANES 2007-08 MEC Interview Exam Manual and the Weight History (WHQMEC) Questionnaire on the NHANES website.

Quality Assurance & Quality Control

The CAPI system is programmed with built-in consistency checks to reduce data entry errors. CAPI also uses online help screens to assist interviewers in defining key terms used in the questionnaire.

For details on the quality assurance/quality control process for this component, please refer to the NHANES 2007-08 Interviewer Procedure Manuals on the NHANES website.

Data Processing and Editing

The WHQ511 responses 22 (I don’t want to be fat) and 23 (I want to be skinny) were collapsed into the new category WHQ510P 26 (I want to be skinny/I don’t want to be fat/because I’m overweight or obese).

WHQ510 30 (Other (specify)) responses such as “Because I’m fat” and “I think I’m overweight” also were recoded as WHQ510P 26.

Frequency counts were verified during the preparation of the file.

Analytic Notes

To provide 4 years of data for analysis, responses to WHQ510M (22) and WHQ510O (25) in the WHQMEC_D data file can be recoded as WHQ150P (26) in order to be comparable to the new category WHQ510P (26) in the WHQMEC_E data file.

Responses to WHQ030m, which asks if adolescents consider themselves now to be fat or overweight, too thin, or about the right weight, can be compared with proxy responses to WHQ030e in the Early Childhood (ECQ) questionnaire section.

Exam sample weights should be used for analyses.

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.

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 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS

WHQ030M - How do you consider your weight

Variable Name:
WHQ030M
SAS Label:
How do you consider your weight
English Text:
Do you consider yourself now to be . . .
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 fat or overweight, 276 276
2 too thin, or 105 381
3 about the right weight? 953 1334
7 refused 0 1334
9 don't know 1 1335
. Missing 92 1427

WHQ500 - Trying to do about weight

Variable Name:
WHQ500
SAS Label:
Trying to do about weight
English Text:
Which of the following are you trying to do about your weight:
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 lose weight, 494 494
2 gain weight, 161 655 WHQ520
3 stay the same weight, or 353 1008 WHQ520
4 not trying to do anything about your weight? 325 1333 WHQ520
7 Refused 0 1333 WHQ520
9 Don't know 2 1335 WHQ520
. Missing 92 1427

WHQ510A - Want to look better

Variable Name:
WHQ510A
SAS Label:
Want to look better
English Text:
Why are you trying to lose weight?
English Instructions:
(Check all that apply). HAND CARD WHQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
10 I want to look better 134 134
77 Refused 0 134
99 Don't know 5 139
. Missing 1288 1427

WHQ510B - Want to be healthier

Variable Name:
WHQ510B
SAS Label:
Want to be healthier
English Text:
Why are you trying to lose weight?
English Instructions:
(Check all that apply). HAND CARD WHQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
11 I want to be healthier 205 205
. Missing 1222 1427

WHQ510C - Want to be better at sports

Variable Name:
WHQ510C
SAS Label:
Want to be better at sports
English Text:
Why are you trying to lose weight?
English Instructions:
(Check all that apply). HAND CARD WHQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
12 I want to be better at sports and other physical activities 110 110
. Missing 1317 1427

WHQ510D - Get teased about my weight

Variable Name:
WHQ510D
SAS Label:
Get teased about my weight
English Text:
Why are you trying to lose weight?
English Instructions:
(Check all that apply). HAND CARD WHQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
13 I get teased about my weight 37 37
. Missing 1390 1427

WHQ510E - Think my clothes will fit better

Variable Name:
WHQ510E
SAS Label:
Think my clothes will fit better
English Text:
Why are you trying to lose weight?
English Instructions:
(Check all that apply). HAND CARD WHQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
14 I think my clothes will fit better 55 55
. Missing 1372 1427

WHQ510F - Think boys will like me better

Variable Name:
WHQ510F
SAS Label:
Think boys will like me better
English Text:
Why are you trying to lose weight?
English Instructions:
(Check all that apply). HAND CARD WHQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
15 I think boys will like me better 6 6
. Missing 1421 1427

WHQ510G - Think girls will like me better

Variable Name:
WHQ510G
SAS Label:
Think girls will like me better
English Text:
Why are you trying to lose weight?
English Instructions:
(Check all that apply). HAND CARD WHQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
16 I think girls will like me better 12 12
. Missing 1415 1427

WHQ510H - Friends are trying to lose weight

Variable Name:
WHQ510H
SAS Label:
Friends are trying to lose weight
English Text:
Why are you trying to lose weight?
English Instructions:
(Check all that apply). HAND CARD WHQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
17 My friends are trying to lose weight 10 10
. Missing 1417 1427

WHQ510I - Someone in family trying to lose weight

Variable Name:
WHQ510I
SAS Label:
Someone in family trying to lose weight
English Text:
Why are you trying to lose weight?
English Instructions:
(Check all that apply). HAND CARD WHQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
18 Someone in my family is trying to lose weight 20 20
. Missing 1407 1427

WHQ510J - Mother/father wants me to lose weight

Variable Name:
WHQ510J
SAS Label:
Mother/father wants me to lose weight
English Text:
Why are you trying to lose weight?
English Instructions:
(Check all that apply). HAND CARD WHQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
19 My mother or father wants me to lose weight 48 48
. Missing 1379 1427

WHQ510K - Teacher/coach wants me to lose weight

Variable Name:
WHQ510K
SAS Label:
Teacher/coach wants me to lose weight
English Text:
Why are you trying to lose weight?
English Instructions:
(Check all that apply). HAND CARD WHQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
20 My teacher or coach wants me to lose weight 3 3
. Missing 1424 1427

WHQ510L - Health professional wants me lose weight

Variable Name:
WHQ510L
SAS Label:
Health professional wants me lose weight
English Text:
Why are you trying to lose weight?
English Instructions:
(Check all that apply). HAND CARD WHQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
21 A doctor, nurse, or other health professional wants me to lose weight 20 20
. Missing 1407 1427

WHQ510P - Want to be skinny/because I'm overweight

Variable Name:
WHQ510P
SAS Label:
Want to be skinny/because I'm overweight
English Text:
Why are you trying to lose weight?
English Instructions:
(Check all that apply). HAND CARD WHQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
26 I want to be skinny/I don’t want to be fat/because I’m or overweight or obese 55 55
. Missing 1372 1427

WHQ510N - Want to feel good/better about self

Variable Name:
WHQ510N
SAS Label:
Want to feel good/better about self
English Text:
Why are you trying to lose weight?
English Instructions:
(Check all that apply). HAND CARD WHQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
24 I want to feel good/better about myself 7 7
. Missing 1420 1427

WHQ510U - Other reason

Variable Name:
WHQ510U
SAS Label:
Other reason
English Text:
Why are you trying to lose weight?
English Instructions:
(Check all that apply). HAND CARD WHQ1.
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
30 Other reason 19 19
. Missing 1408 1427

WHQ520 - How often tried to lose weight

Variable Name:
WHQ520
SAS Label:
How often tried to lose weight
English Text:
In the past year, how often have you tried to lose weight? Would you say . . .
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 never, 639 639
2 sometimes, or 544 1183
3 a lot? 150 1333
7 Refused 0 1333
9 Don't know 2 1335
. Missing 92 1427

WHQ530 - Been on a diet to lose weight

Variable Name:
WHQ530
SAS Label:
Been on a diet to lose weight
English Text:
In the past year, how often have you been on a diet to lose weight? Would you say . . .
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 never, 385 385
2 sometimes, or 264 649
3 a lot? 45 694
7 Refused 0 694
9 Don't know 2 696
. Missing 731 1427

WHQ540 - Starved to lose weight

Variable Name:
WHQ540
SAS Label:
Starved to lose weight
English Text:
In the past year, how often have you starved (not eaten) for a day or more to lose weight? Would you say . . .
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 never, 534 534
2 sometimes, or 138 672
3 a lot? 19 691
7 Refused 0 691
9 Don't know 4 695
. Missing 732 1427

WHQ550 - Cut back on eating to lose weight

Variable Name:
WHQ550
SAS Label:
Cut back on eating to lose weight
English Text:
In the past year, how often have you cut back on what you ate to lose weight? Would you say . . .
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 never, 189 189
2 sometimes, or 415 604
3 a lot? 86 690
7 Refused 0 690
9 Don't know 5 695
. Missing 732 1427

WHQ560 - Skipped meals to lose weight

Variable Name:
WHQ560
SAS Label:
Skipped meals to lose weight
English Text:
In the past year, how often have you skipped meals to lose weight? Would you say . . .
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 never, 425 425
2 sometimes, or 229 654
3 a lot? 37 691
7 Refused 0 691
9 Don't know 4 695
. Missing 732 1427

WHQ570 - Exercised to lose weight

Variable Name:
WHQ570
SAS Label:
Exercised to lose weight
English Text:
In the past year, how often have you exercised to lose weight? Would you say . . .
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 never, 44 44
2 sometimes, or 352 396
3 a lot? 296 692
7 Refused 0 692
9 Don't know 3 695
. Missing 732 1427

WHQ580 - Eaten less sweets or fatty foods

Variable Name:
WHQ580
SAS Label:
Eaten less sweets or fatty foods
English Text:
In the past year, how often have you eaten less sweets or fatty foods to lose weight? Would you say . . .
Target:
Both males and females 8 YEARS - 15 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 never, 127 127
2 sometimes, or 441 568
3 a lot? 122 690
7 Refused 0 690
9 Don't know 5 695
. Missing 732 1427