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 youth 8-15 years of age. These topics include self-perception of weight and dieting attempts.

Eligible Sample

The target sample for the questions in this section is youth aged 8-15 years.

Interview Setting and Mode of Administration

The questions were asked in the MEC, by trained interviewers, using the Computer-Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) system as part of the MEC interview. Proxy respondents were not permitted for this section.

For details on the administration of WHQMEC_J, refer to the NHANES 2017-2018 MEC Interviewers Procedures Manual and the 2017-2018 Weight History 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 2017-18 MEC Interviewer Procedures Manual.

Data Processing and Editing

Frequency counts were verified during the preparation of the 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 questionnaire (ECQ) section.

Exam sample weights should be used for analyses.

Analytic Notes

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 Skip to Item
1 Fat or overweight 234 234
2 Too thin 79 313
3 About the right weight 929 1242
7 Refused 1 1243
9 Don't know 5 1248
. Missing 56 1304

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 440 440
2 Gain weight 161 601
3 Stay the same weight 290 891
4 Not trying to do anything about your weight 355 1246
7 Refused 0 1246
9 Don't know 2 1248
. Missing 56 1304

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 484 484
2 Sometimes 634 1118
3 A lot 130 1248
7 Refused 0 1248
9 Don't know 0 1248
. Missing 56 1304