2012 NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey

• Activity Number: 444
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Tuesday, August 6, 2013 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Survey Research Methods Section
• Author(s): Vicki Burt*+
• Companies: NCHS
• Keywords: NHANES ; NCHS ; children ; activity ; fitness

Abstract

In October 2008, the federal government issued its first-ever Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans to provide science-based guidance on the types and amounts of physical activity that provide substantial health benefits for Americans. Guidelines for Children and Adolescents ask for 60 minutes or more of aerobic, muscle strengthening, or physical activity daily. While the number of children in the U.S. who meet the Physical Activity Guidelines is unknown, the percentage of children who are physically active in the U.S. is declining. To better assess this situation the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) National Youth Fitness Survey (NYFS) was conducted in 2012, simultaneously with the regular NHANES. The study was planned and conducted in concert with the 2012 NHANES but was an independent sample of 1500 children 3-15 who are not participants in the full NHANES, and exams took place in a separate mobile examination center customized specifically for the NNYFS. The unique planning and design of the NNYFS will be presented. An overview of the utility of the physical fitness and activity data collected in the NNYFS and simultaneous NHANES will be covered.