Description

For sample children and sample adults (and prior to 2019, all persons) in families for whom it was sometimes or often true that they couldn't afford to eat balanced meals (FSBALANC), or that they worried that food would run out before getting to buy more (FSRUNOUT), or that the food they bought did not last and they did not have money to buy more (FSNOTLAST), FSSKIP reports how often it was true that any adults in the family cut the size of or skipped meals because there wasn't enough money.

FSSKIP is one of a set of variables comprising the Family Food Security Supplement, designed to study 30-day family food security. For more information about the measurement of 30-day family food security or for a list of other variables in the Family Food Security Supplement, please refer to FSRAWSCORE).

Comparability

Comparability is affected by changes in the universe over time. Beginning in 2019, NHIS data collection changed to select only one sample adult and sample child per household. Accordingly, for 2019-forward, FSSKIP is only available for the sample child age 0-17 and the sample adult age 18 and older.

The NHIS questionnaire was substantially redesigned in 2019 to introduce a different data collection structure and new content. For more information on changes in terminology, universes, and data collection methods beginning in 2019, please see the user note.

Universe

Availability

• 2011-2023

Weights

• 2011-2018 : PERWEIGHT
• 2019-2023 : SAMPWEIGHT