California Statewide Surveys

The three statewide surveys of diet and physical activity practices among adults, teens, and children are important tools in gauging Californian's progress toward meeting the Healthy People 2010 objectives and recommendations from the California Daily Food Guide and provide vital information to guide the development of Network for a Healthy California activities and programs.

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California Dietary Practices Surveys (CDPS)

The California Dietary Practices Surveys (CDPS) is the most extensive dietary and physical activity assessment of adults 18 years and older in the state of California. CDPS was designed in 1989, and is administered biennially in odd years. This survey is housed in the California Department of Health Service’s Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section (CPNS). CDPS was designed to monitor dietary trends, especially fruit and vegetable consumption, among California adults for evaluating their progress toward meeting the 2000 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the Healthy People 2010 objectives, and the1990 California Daily Food Guide recommendations.

For more information regarding CDPS, please contact Sharon Sugerman, at Sharon.Sugerman@cdph.ca.gov.

Background on CDPS (PDF)

Data Tables: 

Survey Instruments:

2003 CDPS Instrument (PDF)

2001 CDPS Instrument (PDF)

1999 CDPS Instrument (PDF)

Survey Reports:

California Dietary Practices Survey: Overall Trends in Healthy Eating Among Adults, 1989-1997, A Call to Action, part 2. California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, CA, 1999

California Dietary Practices Survey: Overall Trends in Healthy Eating Among Adults, 1989-1997, A Call to Action, part 2: Press Highlights. California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, CA, 1999

California Dietary Practices Survey: Focus on Fruits and Vegetables, Trends among Adults, 1989-1997, A Call to Action. California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, CA, 1998

California Dietary Practices Survey: Focus on Lower Income Consumers, Special Report for the Nutrition Network for Healthy, Active Families. California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, CA, 1998

California Dietary Practices Survey: Focus on Fruits and Vegetables, Trends among Adults, 1989-1995, Topline Report. California Department of Health Services and Public Health Institute, Sacramento, CA 1997

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in California Adults Ten-Year Highlights from the California Dietary Practices Survey (PDF) 1989-1999

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California Teen Eating, Exercise and Nutrition Survey (CalTEENS)  

The California Teen Eating, Exercise and Nutrition Survey (CalTEENS) data tables provide detailed information about California adolescent eating and physical activity behaviors. The CalTEENS covers dietary intake and practices, physical and sedentary activity, factors that influence these behaviors including out-of-home eating, social norms, school environment, weight status, weight loss practices, as well as knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs associated with eating and exercise.

For more information regarding the CalTEENS, contact Andrew Bellow at Andrew.Bellow@cdph.ca.gov.

Data Tables:  

Survey Instruments:

2004 CalTEENS Instrument (PDF)

2002 CalTEENS Instrument (PDF)

2000 CalTEENS Instrument (PDF)

1998 CalTEENS Instrument (PDF)

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California Children's Healthy Eating and Exercise Practices Survey (CalCHEEPS)

This survey fills a gap in monitoring children's eating and activity habits in California. No other in-depth statewide survey about eating and exercise practices among children age 9-11 is conducted in California. Unlike the adult and teen telephone surveys, this survey of about 800 children consists of a two-day food and physical activity diary completed by the child, with parental assistance. A follow-up telephone survey about attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge is conducted with the child alone to encourage free expression of ideas.

For more information regarding the CalCHEEPS, contact Angie Keihner at Angie.Keihner@cdph.ca.gov.

Data Tables: 

Survey Instruments: 

1999 CalCHEEPS Phone Instrument (PDF)

1999 CalCHEEPS Food Diary Instrument (PDF)

Survey Reports:

CalCHEEPS Report (PDF, 2MB): This report provides a new analysis of the 1999 California Children’s Healthy Eating and Exercise Practices Survey and offers a snapshot of a typical school day for 9- to 11-year-old children. The report identifies useful methods for improving the impact of nutrition education and physical activity interventions among children. These findings can help parents, schools, and community stakeholders respond to the growing concern about low fruit and vegetable consumption, lack of regular physical activity and the rise in overweight among children.

Findings from the 1999 California Children’s Healthy Eating and Exercise Practices Survey: Policy Implications (PDF) (2002) - contact research@dhs.ca.gov for more information

Special Report to the American Cancer Society - 1999 California Children's Eating and Exercise Practices Survey: Fruits and Vegetables, A Long Way to Go (PDF) (2000) - contact research@dhs.ca.gov for more information

Combined Reports: Special Report to the American Cancer Society - Are Californians Meeting ACS Nutrition Guidelines for Cancer Prevention? Findings from Three Statewide Surveys of Children, Teens, and Adults (PDF) (2002)

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