National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

2009-2010 Data Documentation, Codebook, and Frequencies

Weight History - Youth (WHQMEC_F)

Data File: WHQMEC_F.xpt

First Published: January 2012

Last Revised: NA

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 at the mobile examination center, by trained interviewers, using the Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) system as part of the Mobile Examination Center (MEC) interview. Proxy respondents were not permitted for this section.

For details on the administration of the Weight History 8-15 years (WHQMEC_F) section, please refer to the NHANES 2009-2010 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 2009-10 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 6 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 category WHQ510P (26) in the WHQMEC_E and WHQMEC_F 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 NHANES Analytic Guidelines and the on-line NHANES Tutorial for further details on the use of sample weights and other analytic issues.

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
1	fat or overweight,	256	256
2	too thin, or	129	385
3	about the right weight?	996	1381
7	refused	0	1381
9	don't know	0	1381
.	Missing	87	1468

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,	487	487
2	gain weight,	165	652	WHQ520
3	stay the same weight, or	362	1014	WHQ520
4	not trying to do anything about your weight?	362	1376	WHQ520
7	Refused	0	1376	WHQ520
9	Don't know	4	1380	WHQ520
.	Missing	88	1468

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
10	I want to look better	179	179
77	Refused	0	179
99	Don't know	4	183
.	Missing	1285	1468

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	266	266
.	Missing	1202	1468

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	173	173
.	Missing	1295	1468

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	59	59
.	Missing	1409	1468

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	89	89
.	Missing	1379	1468

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	25	25
.	Missing	1443	1468

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	27	27
.	Missing	1441	1468

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	9	9
.	Missing	1459	1468

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	44	44
.	Missing	1424	1468

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	54	54
.	Missing	1414	1468

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	8	8
.	Missing	1460	1468

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	31	31
.	Missing	1437	1468

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 overweight or obese	35	35
.	Missing	1433	1468

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	14	14
.	Missing	1454	1468

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	13	13
.	Missing	1455	1468

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
1	never,	665	665
2	sometimes, or	573	1238
3	a lot?	141	1379
7	Refused	0	1379
9	Don't know	1	1380
.	Missing	88	1468

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
1	never,	388	388
2	sometimes, or	290	678
3	a lot?	36	714
7	Refused	0	714
9	Don't know	0	714
.	Missing	754	1468

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
1	never,	586	586
2	sometimes, or	115	701
3	a lot?	13	714
7	Refused	0	714
9	Don't know	0	714
.	Missing	754	1468

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
1	never,	215	215
2	sometimes, or	420	635
3	a lot?	77	712
7	Refused	0	712
9	Don't know	2	714
.	Missing	754	1468

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
1	never,	439	439
2	sometimes, or	234	673
3	a lot?	41	714
7	Refused	0	714
9	Don't know	0	714
.	Missing	754	1468

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
1	never,	65	65
2	sometimes, or	363	428
3	a lot?	286	714
7	Refused	0	714
9	Don't know	0	714
.	Missing	754	1468

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
1	never,	138	138
2	sometimes, or	438	576
3	a lot?	137	713
7	Refused	0	713
9	Don't know	1	714
.	Missing	754	1468

Table of Contents