Introduction

The Health Survey for England provides an annual snapshot of the health of the nation and tracks changes over time. The 2012 survey is the twenty second edition.

Survey content

The focus of this year’s report is physical activity. Each survey in the series includes core questions and measurements such as:

blood pressure;
body measurements;
analysis of blood and saliva samples.

As well as the core modules we also ask questions on specific issues that vary from year to year. In 2012 these issues included alcohol consumption, gambling, well-being and sexual health.

Survey participants

All editions of the survey have covered the adult population aged 16 and over living in private households in England. Since 1995, the surveys have also included children aged 2-15 and since 2001, infants aged under 2.

Interviews were held in 5,219 households with 8,291 adults aged 16 and over, and 2,043 children aged 0-15.

5,470 adults and 1,203 children had a nurse visit.

In some years, the core sample has been augmented by an additional boosted sample from specific population subgroups, such as minority ethnic groups, older people or children; there was no boost in 2012.