NHIS

Guide for Data Users

This guide provides links to NHIS adult physical activity information, including questionnaires, documentation, data file information, SAS/SPSS/Stata input statements, and data sets for each data year in which NHIS adult physical activity questions were asked.

NHIS data collection technology has changed over the years with resulting changes in terminology and the display of survey information. Terminology used on the NHIS website for the three major NHIS data collection periods — 2004 to present, 1997-2003, and 1975-1995 — is summarized here.

Survey Information
Terminology used 2004-present
Terminology used 1997-2003
Terminology used 1975-1995

Questionnaire

English/Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards)

Survey Questionnaires

Current Estimates (Tables and Questionnaires)

Documentation

Variable Layout
Variable Frequencies

Dataset Documentation

File Layouts

Data File Information

README File
Survey Description

README File
Survey Description

README File

Sample Program Code

SAS, SPSS, and Stata Input Statements

SAS and SPSS Input Statements*

SAS Input Statements

Data

ASCII Data

Datasets

Datasets

* Stata input statements were first provided for the 2002 data year.

Notice to data users using 64-bit computers running Microsoft operating systems:
NHIS Public Use data sets from 1970-2005 with the .exe file type are unable to be extracted on 64-bit computers running Microsoft operating systems. Data users are advised to rename the .exe files as .zip files and the data sets will extract correctly. This workaround is suggested for data years 1970-2005. Beginning with 2010 data year, ASCII files are being released as .zip files.

 

2004 to Present

Beginning in 2004 and continuing to the present, all NHIS survey information can be accessed from the page titled Questionnaires, Datasets, and Related Documentation, 1997 to (current data year). Links to questionnaires and other survey-related documents are found by scrolling down to the year of interest. For data and documentation (other than the questionnaires and the survey description), click on “Data Release” for the year of interest and click on appropriate links indicated below.

2016
Sample Adult Core
Questionnaire English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards)

 

2015
Sample Adult Cancer Supplement
Questionnaire English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards)
Documentation Variable Layout Variable Frequencies
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data ASCII data (cancerxx.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (cancerxx.sas)
SPSS statements (cancerxx.sps)
Stata statements (cancerxx.do)

 

2015
Sample Adult Core
Questionnaire English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards)
Documentation Variable Layout Variable Frequencies
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data ASCII data (samadult.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (samadult.sas)
SPSS statements (samadult.sps)
Stata statements (samadult.do)

 

2014
Sample Adult Core
Questionnaire English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards)
Documentation Variable Layout Variable Frequencies
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data ASCII data (samadult.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (samadult.sas)
SPSS statements (samadult.sps)
Stata statements (samadult.do)

 

2013
Sample Adult Core
Questionnaire English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards)
Documentation Variable Layout Variable Frequencies
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data ASCII data (samadult.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (samadult.sas)
SPSS statements (samadult.sps)
Stata statements (samadult.do)

 

2012
Sample Adult Core
Questionnaire English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards)
Documentation Variable Layout Variable Frequencies
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data ASCII data (samadult.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (samadult.sas)
SPSS statements (samadult.sps)
Stata statements (samadult.do)

 

2012
Sample Adult Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Questionnaire English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards)
Documentation Variable Layout Variable Frequencies
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data ASCII data (althealt.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (althealt.sas)
SPSS statements (althealt.sps)
Stata statements (althealt.do)

 

2011
Sample Adult Core
Questionnaire English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards)
Documentation Variable Layout Variable Frequencies
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data ASCII data (samadult.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (samadult.sas)
SPSS statements (samadult.sps)
Stata statements (samadult.do)

 

2010
Sample Adult Core
Questionnaire English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards)
Documentation Variable Layout Variable Frequencies
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data ASCII data (samadult.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (samadult.sas)
SPSS statements (samadult.sps)
Stata statements (samadult.do)

 

2010
Sample Adult Cancer Supplement
Questionnaire English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards)
Documentation Variable Layout Variable Frequencies
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data ASCII data (cancerxx.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (cancerxx.sas)
SPSS statements (cancerxx.sps)
Stata statements (cancerxx.do)

 

2009
Sample Adult Core
Questionnaire English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards)
Documentation Variable Layout Variable Frequencies
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data ASCII data (samadult.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (samadult.sas)
SPSS statements (samadult.sps)
Stata statements (samadult.do)

 

2008
Sample Adult Core
Questionnaire English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards)
Documentation Variable Layout Variable Frequencies
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data ASCII data (samadult.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (samadult.sas)
SPSS statements (samadult.sps)
Stata statements (samadult.do)

 

2007
Sample Adult Core
Questionnaire English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards)
Documentation Variable Layout Variable Frequencies
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data ASCII data (samadult.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (samadult.sas)
SPSS statements (samadult.sps)
Stata statements (samadult.do)

 

2007 Adult Alternative Medicine (ALT) Supplement
Questionnaire English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards)
Documentation Variable Layout Variable Frequencies
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data ASCII data (althealt.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (althealt.sas)
SPSS statements (althealt.sps)
Stata statements (althealt.do)

 

2006 Sample Adult Core
Questionnaire English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards)
Documentation Variable Layout Variable Frequencies
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data ASCII data (samadult.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (samadult.sas)
SPSS statements (samadult.sps)
Stata statements (samadult.do)

 

2005 Sample Adult Core
Questionnaire English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards)
Documentation Variable Layout Variable Frequencies
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data ASCII data (samadult.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (samadult.sas)
SPSS statements (samadult.sps)
Stata statements (samadult.do)

 

2005 Sample Adult Cancer Supplement
Questionnaire English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards)
Documentation Variable Layout Variable Frequencies
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data ASCII data (cancerxx.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (cancerxx.sas)
SPSS statements (cancerxx.sps)
Stata statements (cancerxx.do)

 

2004 Sample Adult Core
Questionnaire English Spanish (Questionnaires and Flashcards)
Documentation Variable Layout Variable Frequencies
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data ASCII data (samadult.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (samadult.sas)
SPSS statements (samadult.sps)
Stata statements (samadult.do)

 

1997-2003

During the period 1997-2003, all survey-related information is accessed directly from the page titled Questionnaires, Datasets, and Related Documentation, 1997 to (current data year). Scroll down to the data year of interest and click on the appropriate links, indicated below.

 

2003 Sample Adult Core
Questionnaire Survey Questionnaires (qsamadlt.pdf)
Documentation Dataset Documentation (samadult.pdf)
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data Datasets (samadult.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (samadult.sas)
SPSS statements (samadult.sps)
Stata statements (samadult.do)

 

2002 Sample Adult Core
Questionnaire Survey Questionnaires (qsamadlt.pdf)
Documentation Dataset Documentation (samadult.pdf)
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data Datasets (samadult.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (samadult.sas)
SPSS statements (samadult.sps)
Stata statements (samadult.do)

 

2002 Sample Adult Alternative Medicine (ALT) Supplement*
Questionnaire Survey Questionnaires (qsamadlt.pdf)
Documentation Dataset Documentation (althealt.pdf)
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data Datasets (althealt.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (althealt.sas)
SPSS statements (althealt.sps)
Stata statements (althealt.do)

* NOTE: The Alternative Health Supplement questionnaire and the Sample Adult Core questionnaire are combined. However, all other related data and documentation are separate.

 

2001 Sample Adult Core
Questionnaire Survey Questionnaires (qsamadlt.pdf)
Documentation Dataset Documentation (samadult.pdf)
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data Datasets (samadult.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (samadult.sas)
SPSS statements (samadult.sps)

 

2000 Sample Adult Core
Questionnaire Survey Questionnaires (qsamadlt.pdf)
Documentation Dataset Documentation (samadult.pdf)
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data Datasets (samadult.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (samadult.sas)
SPSS statements (samadult.sps)

 

2000 Sample Adult Cancer Supplement*
Questionnaire Survey Questionnaires (qcancerx.pdf)
Documentation Dataset Documentation (samadult.pdf)
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data Datasets (samadult.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (samadult.sas)
SPSS statements (samadult.sps)

* NOTE: The Sample Adult Cancer Supplement questionnaire and the Sample Adult (core) questionnaire are separate. However all other related data and documentation are combined with the Sample Adult files.

 

1999 Sample Adult Core
Questionnaire Survey Questionnaires (qsamadlt.pdf)
Documentation Dataset Documentation (samadult.pdf)
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data Datasets (samadult.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (samadult.sas)
SPSS statements (samadult.sps)

 

1998 Sample Adult Core
Questionnaire Survey Questionnaires (qsamadlt.pdf)
Documentation Dataset Documentation (samadult.pdf)
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data Datasets (samadult.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (samadult.sas)
SPSS statements (samadult.sps)

 

1998 Sample Adult Prevention Supplement
Questionnaire Survey Questionnaires (qprevsad.pdf)
Documentation Dataset Documentation (prevadlt.pdf)
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data Datasets (prevadlt.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (prevadlt.sas)
SPSS statements (prevadlt.sps)

 

1997 Sample Adult Core
Questionnaire Survey Questionnaires (qsamadlt.pdf)
Documentation Dataset Documentation (samadult.pdf)
Data File Information Readme File Survey Description
Data Datasets (samadult.zip)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (samadult.sas)
SPSS statements (samadult.sps)

 

1975-1995

For 1975-1995, survey information is organized by data year in descending order. Links to most documents for these years are provided below. All NHIS survey information for this period can also be accessed from the page titled Internet-Available Datasets and Related Documentation 1996-Prior. Note that, unlike later years, questionnaires are located in appendix III of Current Estimates reports for each of these years. These reports are large and may take some time to download.

 

1995 Year 2000 Objectives Supplement
Questionnaire Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III)
Documentation File Layouts (YEAR2000.PDF)
Data File Information Readme File
Dataset Datasets (YEAR2000.ZIP)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (YEAR2000.SAS)

 

1994 Year 2000 Objectives Supplement
Questionnaire Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III)
Documentation: File Layouts (YEAR2000.PDF)
Data File Information Readme File
Dataset Datasets (YEAR2000.ZIP)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (YEAR2000.SAS)

 

1994 Disability Followback Survey (DFS-3) Supplement on Aging Questionnaire*
Questionnaire Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III)
Documentation File Layouts (SOA2PUXX.PDF)
Data File Information Readme File
Dataset Datasets (SOA2PUXX.ZIP)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (SOA2PUXX.SAS)

* NOTE: Physical activity questions identical to those included in the Supplement on Aging were also asked of adults aged 70 years and over in Section M of the Disability Follow-back (DFS-2) Adults Questionnaire. Data from the two questionnaires were combined and released in the DFS-3 data file.

 

1993 Year 2000 Objectives Supplement
Questionnaire Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III)
Documentation File Layouts (YEAR2000.PDF)
Data File Information Readme File
Dataset Datasets (YEAR2000.ZIP)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (YEAR2000.SAS)

 

1991 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (2000 Objectives)
Questionnaire Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III)
Documentation File Layouts (HPDPSAMP.PDF)
Data File Information Readme File
Dataset Datasets (HPDPSAMP.ZIP)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (HPDPSAMP.SAS)

 

1990 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Supplement (1990 CAPI Supplement)
Questionnaire Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III)
Documentation File Layouts (HPDPSAMP.pdf)
Data File Information Readme File
Dataset Datasets (HPDPSAMP.ZIP)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (HPDPSAMP.SAS)

 

1988 Occupational Health Supplement
Questionnaire Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III)
Documentation File Layouts (OCHEALTH.PDF)
Data File Information Readme File
Dataset Datasets (OCHEALTH.ZIP)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (OCHEALTH.SAS)

 

1985 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Supplement
Questionnaire Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III)
Documentation File Layouts (HPDPSAMP.PDF)
Data File Information Readme File
Dataset Datasets (HPDPSAMP.ZIP)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (HPDPSAMP.SAS)

 

1984 Supplement on Aging
Questionnaire Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III)
Documentation File Layouts (SOAGEPER.PDF)
Data File Information Readme File
Dataset Datasets (SOAGEPER.ZIP)
Sample Program Code SAS statements (SOAGEPER.SAS)

 

1983 Alcohol and Health Practices Supplement
Questionnaire Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III)
Documentation File Layouts (ALCOHOLH.PDF)
Data File Information Readme File
Dataset Datasets (ALCOHOLH.ZIP)
Sample Program Code SAS Input Statements (ALCOHOLH.SAS)

 

1977 Health Habits (H1) Supplement
Questionnaire Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III)
Documentation File Layouts (H1SUPPLT.PDF)
Data File Information Readme File
Dataset Datasets (H1SUPPLT.ZIP)
Sample Program Code SAS Input Statements (H1SUPPLT.SAS)

 

1975 Physical Fitness Supplement
Questionnaire Reports (Current Estimates Appendix III)
Documentation File Layouts (PHYSFITN.PDF)
Data File Information Readme File
Dataset Datasets (PHYSFITN.ZIP)
Sample Program Code SAS Input Statements (PHYSFITN.SAS)