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DITPRITYR
Used Pritikin diet, past 12 months
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Description

For sample adults in 2002, 2007 and 2012 who had ever used the Pritikin diet for two weeks or more for health reasons (DITPRITEV) and for sample children in 2007 and 2012, DITPRITYR reports whether the person had used the Pritikin diet for two weeks or more for health reasons in the past 12 months.

Special diets--including the Pritikin, Ornish, Atkins, macrobiotic, South Beach, vegetarian, and Zone diets--were one of many alternative health treatment modalities included in the Complementary and Alternative Health Supplements. If sample adults gave a positive response to DITPRITYR, they were asked a series of follow-up questions.
In addition, respondents 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. Please use the IPUMS NHIS drop-down menus and search function to learn more about these variables.

Definitions 

The 2002 Field Representative's Manual defines the Pritikin diet (or "Pritikin Principle") as:

a low-fat diet, (10 percent or less) which emphasizes the consumption of foods with a large volume of fiber and water (low in caloric density), including many vegetables, fruits, beans, and natural, unprocessed grains. According to this diet, weight loss will occur if the average caloric density of a meal is kept below 400 calories per pound.

This definition was not routinely shared with respondents.

The 2007 and 2012 Field Representative's Manuals provide a similar definition:

While meat is allowed, the Pritikin diet (or Pritikin Principle) is low-fat and emphasizes the consumption of foods with a large volume of fiber and water, including many vegetables, fruits, beans, and natural, unprocessed grains.

In 2007 and 2012, field representatives were advised to "feel free to offer [this definition] even if the respondent has not requested [it]."

Comparability

In 2007, sample children were added to the universe for this question. In 2007 only, the sample child universe was not restricted by if the sample child had ever used pritikin diet (DITPRITEV). Because of this expanded universe, the number of negative responses for DITPRITYR is much higher in 2007. Otherwise, there are no comparability issues.

Universe

  • 2002: Sample adults age 18+ who have used the Pritikin diet for two weeks or more for health reasons.
  • 2007: Sample adults age 18+ and sample children under 18 who have ever used the Pritikin diet.
  • 2012: Sample adults age 18+ and sample children between the ages of 4 and 17 who have ever used the Pritkin diet.

Availability

  • 2002, 2007, 2012

Weights