SED_EAT_LN is a 4-digit numeric variable reported in minutes. This variable is available as part of the Eating and Health Module.

Description

SED_EAT_LN reports the number of minutes during the primary activity that the respondent spent in secondary eating.

Secondary eating is not recorded if the respondent's main activity is sleeping (010101), primary eating and drinking (110101, 110199, 119999), or eating and drinking as part of job (050202).

Researchers may also want to use SED_DRINK_LN, which reports the time spent during the activity in secondary eating. Users combining these variables should be aware of the way in which these data were collected and recommendations for using them (see additional documentation).

This variable is available via extracts that are hierarchical or rectangular (activity) (more info on extract formats). If you request a hierarchical extract and plan to construct time use variables in your statistics package, this variable may be useful to you. If you request a rectangular extract and plan to construct time use variables through the extract system, SED_EAT_LN will not be included in your extract, as persons are the unit of observation for rectangular extracts rather than activity or who records.

Comparability

This variable is only available as part of the Eating and Health Module.

In October 2006, an "all day" option was added for secondary eating. For respondents who reported "all day," the secondary eating activity duration is equivalent to the duration of the primary activity. Secondary eating duration is not allowed during a small number of activities and is thus always equal to zero during these primary activities, which include sleeping (010101), primary eating and drinking (110101) eating and drinking, n.e.c. (110199, 119999), and eating and drinking as part of job (050202).

Respondents were able to report "all day" prior to October 2006, and the mean duration of secondary eating increased. The percentage of respondents reporting any secondary eating remained fairly level over 2007. No internal consistency issues exist for 2006 and 2007. Pooling 2006 and 2007 data should take the skewness of the data into account.

Universe

Availability

• 2006-2008, 2014-2016, 2022-2023

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