Description
For sample adults in 2002 and 2007 who had ever used a vegetarian diet for two weeks or more for health reasons (DITVEGEV) and for sample children in 2007, DITVEGYR reports whether the person had used a vegetarian diet for two weeks or more for health reasons in the past 12 months.
Special diets--including vegetarian, Ornish, Zone, Atkins, macrobiotic, Pritikin, and South Beach 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 2002 and 2007, if sample adults gave a positive response to DITVEGYR (or to the comparable variables DITATKINYR, DITMACYR, DITORNYR, DITSBYR [2007 only], DITPRITYR, DITZONYR, which cover use of other special diets in the past 12 months), they were asked a series of follow-up questions (see DITATKINYR).
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 (see DITTREAT).
Definitions
The 2002 and 2007 Field Representative's Manuals provide identical definitions of vegetarian diets. They define such diets as:
In 2002, this definition was not routinely shared with respondents. However, in 2007, field representatives were advised to "feel free to offer [this definition] even if the respondent has not requested [it]."
Comparability
DITVEGYR 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? ... vegetarian (for health reasons)."
The 2007 sample adult questionnaire asked, "During the past 12 months, did you use a vegetarian 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. ... Vegetarian?"
For sample children in 2007, field representatives were instructed to "include vegan" as a vegetarian diet.
Universe
- 2002: Sample adults age 18+ who have used a vegetarian diet for two weeks or more for health reasons.
- 2007: Sample adults age 18+ who have ever used a vegetarian diet and sample children under 18.
Codes and Frequencies
Availability
- 2002, 2007
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Weights
- 2002, 2007 : SAMPWEIGHT
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