At A Glance
Noteworthy Characteristics
- Includes information on school policies and practices related to physical activity and diet/nutrition.
- Identifies health education topics and skills taught.
- Provides data for most states, select large urban school districts, and select territories.
Website
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyYouth/profiles/
Purpose
To collect data about health practices and policies for middle and high schools in the United States (U.S.) and its territories.
Target Population
Middle and high schools (grades 6-12) in the U.S. and its territories. School Health Profiles is a system of surveys conducted across the nation. In 2016, 48 states, 21 large urban school districts, and 4 territories obtained weighted data.
Conducted
Began in 1994. Conducted biennially. Most recent year conducted was 2016.
Sponsor
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Special Note(s)
For more information, contact Nancy Brener at nad1@cdc.gov.
Sampling
Sample Design
Cross-sectional survey.
Random, systematic, equal-probability sampling strategies are used to produce representative samples of schools in each jurisdiction. Learn more about the sampling design.
Sample Size
In 2016:
• Among the 48 states with weighted data: the median number of principals participating was 262, and the median number of teachers participating was 254.
• Among the 21 large urban school districts with weighted data: the median number of principals participating was 62, and the median number of teachers participating was 63.
• In both of the territories with weighted data: the median number of principals participating was 12, and the median number of teachers participating was 12.
Learn more about sample sizes by state, urban school district, and territory from Table 1 in the Profiles 2016 report.
Special Note(s)
In 2016, 12 states, 18 large urban school districts, and 3 territories modified this sampling procedure and invited all secondary schools, rather than just a sample, to participate.
Weighted data means that at least 70 percent of the principals or lead health education teachers in the sample completed the survey. Weighted data represent the state, school district, or territory, whereas unweighted data represent only the schools that completed the questionnaire.
Key Variables
Demographic
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Grades taught in school | Sampling frame |
Diet-Related
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Availability of fruits or non-fried vegetables at school | Interview/questionnaire (principal) |
| Availability of snack foods and beverages at school (e.g., baked goods that are not low in fat, salty snacks that are not low in fat, candy, soda pop or fruit drinks that are not 100% juice) | Interview/questionnaire (principal) |
| Policies related to the sale of competitive foods | Interview/questionnaire (principal) |
| Availability of a free source of drinking water | Interview/questionnaire (principal) |
| Professional preparation of staff related to nutrition and dietary behavior | Interview/questionnaire (lead health education teacher) |
| Provision of health information (nutrition and healthy eating) for parents and families | Interview/questionnaire (lead health education teacher) |
| Requirement for nutrition education | Interview/questionnaire (lead health education teacher) |
| School policies/practices related to food advertising/promotion | Interview/questionnaire (principal) |
| Specific topics taught related to nutrition and dietary behavior | Interview/questionnaire (lead health education teacher) |
Physical Activity-Related
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Opportunities for intramural sports (i.e., opportunities for extracurricular physical activities regardless of ability) | Interview/questionnaire (principal) |
| Physical education requirements by grade | Interview/questionnaire (principal) |
| Professional preparation of staff related to physical activity | Interview/questionnaire (principal) |
| Provision of health information (physical activity) for parents and families | Interview/questionnaire (lead health education teacher) |
| Requirement for instruction on physical activity | Interview/questionnaire (lead health education teacher) |
| Specific topics taught related to physical activity | Interview/questionnaire (lead health education teacher) |
| Opportunities for interscholastic sports | Interview/questionnaire (principal) |
| Opportunities for physical activity breaks outside of physical education | Interview/questionnaire (principal) |
| Existence of joint use agreements for shared use of school or community physical activity or sports facilities | Interview/questionnaire (principal) |
Geocode/Linkage
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| State | N/A |
Data Access and Cost
Data Availability
State, territorial, and local data files and documentation are owned and controlled by the jurisdictions that conducted the survey. Many states, territories, and districts, however, have given the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) permission to distribute their data files upon request. Investigators can obtain data files for these jurisdictions by contacting CDC at cdcinfo@cdc.gov, completing a form, or calling 1 800-CDC-INFO.
Cost
Costs for data are determined by jurisdiction. Many data files are free of charge.
Geocode/Linkage
Geocode Variable(s)
State.
Existing Linkages
None noted.
Selected Publications
Click here for a full list of publications.
General
Brener ND, Kann L, Lee S, McKenna ML, Wechsler H. Secondary school health education related to nutrition and physical activity - selected sites, United States, 2004. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2006;55(30):821-824.
Foti K, Balaji A, Shanklin S. Uses of Youth Risk Behavior Survey and School Health Profiles Data: Applications for Improving Adolescent and School Health. Journal of School Health 2011;81:345-354.
O'Brien LM, Polacsek M, Macdonald PB, Ellis J, Berry S, Martin M. Impact of a school health coordinator intervention on health-related school policies and student behavior. Journal of School Health 2010;80(4):176-185.
Diet-Related
Brener N, Kann L, O'Toole T, Wechsler H. Competitive foods and beverages available for purchase in secondary schools—selected sites, United States, 2006. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2008;57(34):935-938.
Brener N, O'Toole T, Kann L, Lowry R, Wechsler H. Availability of less nutritious snack foods and beverages in secondary schools—selected states, 2002–2008. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2009;58(39):1102-1104.
Merlo CL, Olsen EO, Galic M, Brener ND. The Relationship Between State Policies for Competitive Foods and School Nutrition Practices in the United States. Preventing Chronic Disease 2014;11:130216.
Resources
Full report: School Health Profiles 2016: Characteristics of Health Programs Among Secondary Schools.
Full report: School Health Profiles 2014: Characteristics of Health Programs Among Secondary Schools
Full report: School Health Profiles 2012: Characteristics of Health Programs Among Secondary Schools
