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.exe)
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.exe)
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.exe)
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.exe)
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.exe)
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.exe)
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.exe)
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.exe)
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.exe)
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.exe)
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.exe)
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.exe)
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.exe)
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.exe)
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.exe)
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.exe)
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.exe)
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.exe)
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.EXE)
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.EXE)
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.EXE)
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.EXE)
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.EXE)
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.EXE)
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.EXE)
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.EXE)
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.EXE)
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.EXE)
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.EXE)
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.EXE)
Sample Program Code	SAS Input Statements (PHYSFITN.SAS)