Diet Data

The China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) was designed to examine the effects of the health, nutrition, and family planning policies and programs implemented by national and local governments and to see how the social and economic transformation of Chinese society is affecting the health and nutritional status of its population. The impact on nutrition and health behaviors and outcomes is gauged by changes in community organizations and programs as well as by changes in sets of household and individual economic, demographic, and social factors. CHNS covers nine provinces that vary substantially in geography, economic development, public resources, and health indicators. Three days' worth of detailed household food consumption information is collected. In addition, individual dietary intake for three consecutive days is collected for every household member, irrespective of age or relationship to the household head. Adults and children receive detailed physical examinations that included weight, height, arm and head circumference, mid-arm skinfold measurements, and blood pressure (for children age 7 and older and all adults). Limited clinical nutrition and physical functioning data have been collected since 1993. Activities of daily living and related information for older adults and a new set of physical activity and inactivity data have been added for all respondents since 1997