Description
For sample adults in 2002 and 2007 who had ever used the Atkins diet for two weeks or more for health reasons (DITATKINEV) and for sample children in 2007, DITATKINYR reports whether the person had used the Atkins diet for two weeks or more for health reasons in the past 12 months.
Special diets--including the Atkins, macrobiotic, Ornish, Pritikin, South Beach, vegetarian, and Zone diets--were one of many alternative health treatment modalities included in the 2002 and 2007 Alternative Health Supplements. For the full list of alternative health treatments covered in the NHIS, and for general background information about the Alternative Health Supplements, see ACUYR.
In addition, both sample children (2007 only) and sample adults (both 2002 and 2007) who had used any of the seven specified special diets in the past 12 months were asked whether the diets were used to treat a specific medical condition and, if so, what that condition was.
Definitions
The 2002 Field Representative's Manual provides the following definition:
This definition was not routinely shared with respondents.
The 2007 Field Representative's Manual provides a truncated version of that definition:
In 2007 field representatives were advised to "feel free to offer [this definition] even if the respondent has not requested [it]."
Related Variables
In 2002 and 2007, if sample adults gave a positive response to DITATKINYR (or to the comparable variables DITMACYR, DITORNYR, DITPRITYR, DITSBYR [2007 only], DITVEGYR, or DITZONYR, which cover use of other special diets in the past 12 months), they were asked a series of follow-up questions. These questions, which are described in more detail below, addressed the following topics: number of special diets used; importance of the use of the special diet; whether they saw a practitioner or other professional for the special diet; any conventional medical treatments received and the timing of the conventional treatment relative to the use of the special diet; the reasons for using a special diet; and the disclosure of the use of the special diet to conventional medical professionals.
As noted, sample adults who had used special diets in the past 12 months (i.e., those with a positive response in DITATKINYR, DITMACYR, DITORNYR, DITPRITYR, DITSBYR, DITVEGYR, or DITZONYR) were asked further questions about their use of special diets as follows:
- special diet used the most (DITMOST)
- number of special diets used (DITNO)
- importance of use of special diet (DITIMPORT)
- whether saw practitioner for special diet (DITPRAC, DITPRACYR, DITPRACALT, DITPRACMD, DITPRACNUT, DITPRACRN, DITPRACOTH)
- times saw practitioner for special diet (DITPRACNO)
- amount paid per visit for special diet (DITPRACPAY)
- reasons for using special diet (DITUSCOMBO, DITUSENERGY, DITUSHCREC, DITUSIMMUN, DITUSINTER, DITUSMEDCOST, DITUSMEDFAIL, DITUSRELREC, DITUSWELL)
- whether combined special diet with conventional treatments (DITNOCONV, DITCOUN, DITNPMED, DITPMED, DITPT, DITSURG)
- timing of special diet use, relative to use of conventional treatments (DITCOUNTIM, DITNPMEDTIM, (DITPMEDTIM, DITPTTIM, DITSURGTIM)
- whether informed conventional medical practitioners of use of special diet (DITLCONVHP, DITLDENT, DITLDO, DITLMD, DITLNURS, DITLPHARM, DITLPSYCHI, DITLPSYCHO)
Both sample adults (both 2002 and 2007) and sample children (2007 only) who had used any of the specified special diets (Atkins, macrobiotic, Ornish, Pritikin, South Beach [2007 only], vegetarian, or Zone) in the past year were asked if they had done so to treat a specific health problem or condition (see DITTREAT). If the answer was affirmative, they were asked to specify the condition treated.
There are 131 total variables for specific conditions that were treated by special diets, including 72 for sample adults, 28 for sample children, and 31 for both sample adults and sample children. See DITTREAT for more detail and the full list of conditions that persons could indicate were treated with special diets. Analysts interested in the conditions that special diets were used to treat may also wish to consult the following variables:
- condition for which special diet was used most (DITTCONMOST)
- first condition for which special diet was used (DITCON1)
- degree of help from special diet, 1st condition (DITCON1HELP)
- second condition for which special diet was used (DITCON2)
- degree of help from special diet, 2nd condition (DITCON2HELP)
- third condition for which special diet was used (DITCON3)
- degree of help from special diet, 3rd condition (DITCON3HELP)
- condition count for special diet (DITCONNO)
Comparability
DITATKINYR is fully comparable across time.
In the 2002 sample adult questionnaire, the question read, "During the past 12 months, did you use any of these for two weeks for health reasons? ... Atkins."
The 2007 sample adult questionnaire asked, "During the past 12 months, did you use the Atkins diet for two weeks or more for health reasons?"
The 2007 sample child questionnaire asked, "During the past 12 months, did [fill: sample child's name] use any of the following special diets for two weeks or more for health reasons? Please say yes or no to each. ... Atkins?"
Universe
- 2002: Sample adults age 18+ who have ever used the Atkins diet for two weeks or more for health reasons.
- 2007: Sample adults age 18+ who have ever used the Atkins diet and sample children under 18.
Codes and Frequencies
Availability
- 2002, 2007
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Weights
- 2002, 2007 : SAMPWEIGHT
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