An inter-departmental multi-purpose continuous survey carried out by the Office for National Statistics collecting information on a range of topics from people living in private households in Great Britain. Source agency: Office for National Statistics Designation: National Statistics Language: English Alternative title: GLF

The Health Survey for England (HSE) is part of a programme of surveys commissioned by the Health and Social Care Information Centre. It has been carried out since 1994 by the Joint Health Surveys Unit of NatCen Social Research and the Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at UCL (University College London). The study provides regular information that cannot be obtained from other sources on a range of aspects concerning the public's health and many of the factors that affect health. The series of Health Surveys for England was designed to monitor trends in the nation's health, to estimate the proportion of people in England who have specified health conditions, and to estimate the prevalence of certain risk factors and combinations of risk factors associated with these conditions. The survey is also used to monitor progress towards selected health targets. Each survey in the series includes core questions and measurements (such as blood pressure, anthropometric measurements and analysis of blood and saliva samples), as well as modules of questions on specific issues that vary from year to year. In some years, the core sample has also been augmented by an additional boosted sample from a specific population subgroup, such as minority ethnic groups, older people or children; there was no boost in 2011. This is the twenty first annual Health Survey for England. All surveys have covered the adult population aged 16 and over living in private households in England. Since 1995, the surveys have included children who live in households selected for the survey; children aged 2-15 were included from 1995, and infants under two years old were added in 2001. Those living in institutions were outside the scope of the survey. This should be borne in mind when considering survey findings, since the institutional population is likely to be older and less healthy than those living in private households. The HSE in 2011 provided a representative sample of the population at both national and regional level. For the general population sample, 8,992 addresses were randomly selected in 562 postcode sectors, issued over twelve months from January to December 2011. Where an address was found to have multiple dwelling units, a random selection was made and a single dwelling unit was included. Where there were multiple households at a dwelling unit, again one was selected at random. All adults and children in selected households were eligible for inclusion in the survey. Where there were three or more children aged 0-15 in a household, two of the children were selected at random to limit the respondent burden for parents. A nurse visit was arranged for all participants who consented. A total of 8,610 adults and 2,007 children were interviewed. A household response rate of 66per cent was achieved. 5,715 adults and 1,257 children had a nurse visit. It should be noted that, for the first time for several years, there was no child boost sample in 2011. Thus the scope for analyses of some data for children may be limited by relatively small sample sizes. The report authors would like to acknowledge with thanks the contribution of the National Obesity Observatory to Chapter 10 on adult obesity.

The Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) is an omnibus survey that collects data on a range of subjects commissioned by both the ONS internally and external clients (limited to other government departments, charities, non-profit organisations and academia).

Data are collected from one individual aged 16 or over, selected from each sampled private household. Personal data include data on the individual, their family, address, household, income and education, plus responses and opinions on a variety of subjects within commissioned modules.

The questionnaire collects timely data for research and policy analysis evaluation on the social impacts of recent topics of national importance, such as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the cost of living, on individuals and households in Great Britain.

From April 2018 to November 2019, the design of the OPN changed from face-to-face to a mixed-mode design (online first with telephone interviewing where necessary). Mixed-mode collection allows respondents to complete the survey more flexibly and provides a more cost-effective service for customers.

In March 2020, the OPN was adapted to become a weekly survey used to collect data on the social impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the lives of people of Great Britain. These data are held in the Secure Access study, SN 8635, ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, 2019-2023: Secure Access. Other Secure Access OPN data cover modules run at various points from 1997-2019, on Census religion (SN 8078), cervical cancer screening (SN 8080), contact after separation (SN 8089), contraception (SN 8095), disability (SNs 8680 and 8096), general lifestyle (SN 8092), illness and activity (SN 8094), and non-resident parental contact (SN 8093).

From August 2021, as coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions were lifting across Great Britain, the OPN moved to fortnightly data collection, sampling around 5,000 households in each survey wave to ensure the survey remains sustainable.

The OPN has since expanded to include questions on other topics of national importance, such as health and the cost of living. For more information about the survey and its methodology, see the ONS https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/methodologies/opinionsandlifestylesurveyqmi">OPN Quality and Methodology Information webpage.

ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, 2019-2025: Secure Access

The aim of the COVID-19 Module within this study was to help understand the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on people, households and communities in Great Britain. It was a weekly survey initiated in March 2020, and since August 2021, as COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, the survey has moved to fortnightly data collection, sampling around 5,000 households in each survey wave. The study allows the breakdown of impacts by at-risk age, gender and underlying health condition. The samples are randomly selected from those that had previously completed other ONS surveys (e.g., Labour Market Survey, Annual Population Survey). From each household, one adult is randomly selected but with unequal probability: younger people are given a higher selection probability than older people because of under-estimation in the samples available for the survey.

The study also includes data for the Internet Access Module from 2019 onwards. Data from this module for previous years are available as End User Licence studies within GN 33441. Also included are data from the Winter Lifestyle Survey for January and February 2023.

Latest edition information

For the twelfth edition (November 2025), data and documentation for the main OPN survey for waves to EC to FD-FE (January 2024 - February 2025) have been added. Data and documentation for the Childcare Options Module (July to November 2019 and January - February 2020) have also been added.

Survey information including sample sizes, response rates and user requested data for the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN).

The Health Survey for England series was designed to monitor trends in the nation's health; estimating the proportion of people in England who have specified health conditions, and the prevalence of risk factors and behaviours associated with these conditions. The surveys provide regular information that cannot be obtained from other sources. The surveys have been carried out since 1994 by the Joint Health Surveys Unit of NatCen Social Research and the Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at UCL. Each survey in the series includes core questions, e.g. about alcohol and smoking, and measurements (such as blood pressure, height and weight, and analysis of blood and saliva samples), and modules of questions on topics that vary from year to year. The trend tables show data for available years between 1993 and 2016 for adults (defined as age 16 and over) and for children. The survey samples cover the population living in private households in England. In 2016 the sample contained 8,011 adults and 2,056 children and 5,049 adults and 1,117 children had a nurse visit. We would very much like your feedback about whether some proposed changes to the publications would be helpful and if the publications meet your needs. This will help us shape the design of future publications to ensure they remain informative and useful. Please answer our reader feedback survey on Citizen Space which is open until 18 June 2018.

The Health Survey for England is a series of annual surveys designed to measure health and health-related behaviours in adults and children living in private households in England. The survey was commissioned originally by the Department of Health and, from April 2005 by The NHS Information Centre for health and social care. The Health Survey for England has been designed and carried out since 1994 by the Joint Health Surveys Unit of the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) and the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University College London Medical School (UCL). The 2009 Health Survey for England focused on long term health conditions and self-assessed general health. It looked at the effectiveness and use of personal care plans, which were introduced in 2006 as part of the strategy to support and empower those with long term conditions. The survey had a secondary focus on kidney disease, renal function and diabetes. As well as the focus topics, the report also provided updates on the core topics of general health, fruit and vegetable consumption, alcohol consumption and smoking.

Information about sample sizes, response rates, household characteristics, and expenditure uncertainty metrics for the Living Costs and Food Survey.

This Official Statistic contains data from the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey to monitor the Fulfilling Potential Outcomes and Indicators Framework. The Framework was set up in 2013 to measure progress towards the Government's vision of disabled people fulfilling their potential and playing a full role in society. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/opinions-and-lifestyle-survey-fulfilling-potential-outcomes-and-indicators Source agency: Work and Pensions Designation: Experimental Official Statistics Language: English Alternative title: Fulfilling Potential Outcomes and Indicators Framework indicators using the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey

This statistic displays the results of a survey of individuals in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2012, regarding their agreement with the statement, "I tend to take risks". Fifteen percent of respondents reported they strongly disagreed with the statement.

Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey Source agency: ISD Scotland (part of NHS National Services Scotland) Designation: National Statistics Language: English Alternative title: Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey

The Health Survey for England (HSE) monitors trends in the nation’s health and care. It provides information about adults aged 16 and over, and children aged 0 to 15, living in private households in England. The survey consists of an interview, followed by a visit from a nurse who takes some measurements and blood and saliva samples. Adults and children aged 13 to 15 were interviewed in person, and parents of children aged 0 to 12 answered on behalf of their children for many topics. Children aged 8 to 15 filled in a self-completion booklet about their drinking and smoking behaviour. A total of 8,178 adults (aged 16 and over) and 2,072 children (aged 0 to 15) were interviewed in the 2018 survey. 4,825 adults and 1,103 children had a nurse visit. Each survey in the series includes core questions, and measurements such as blood pressure, height and weight measurements and analysis of blood and saliva samples. In addition there are modules of questions on specific topics that vary from year to year. The detailed reports with supporting Excel tables can be found at the bottom of this page and comprise the following topics: Overweight and obesity in adults and children Asthma Adult's health-related behaviours (includes smoking, alcohol, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity and gambling) Longstanding conditions Adults' health (including diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol) Childrens' health (includes smoking, alcohol, and fruit and vegetable consumption) Social care in older adults _ This publication was updated on 31st January 2020. See the data quality statement attached to this page for more information.

The impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on people, households and communities in Great Britain – indicators from the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN).

• to provide annual data about the nation’s health;
• to estimate the proportion of people in England with specified health conditions;
• to estimate the prevalence of certain risk factors associated with these conditions;
• to examine differences between population subgroups in their likelihood of having specific conditions or risk factors;
• to assess the frequency with which particular combinations of risk factors are found, and which groups these combinations most commonly occur;
• to monitor progress towards selected health targets
• since 1995, to measure the height of children at different ages, replacing the National Study of Health and Growth;
• since 1995, monitor the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children.

The survey includes a number of core questions every year but also focuses on different health issues at each wave. Topics are revisited at appropriate intervals in order to monitor change.

Further information about the series may be found on the NHS Digital Health Survey for England; health, social care and lifestyles webpage, the NatCen Social Research NatCen Health Survey for England webpage and the University College London Health and Social Surveys Research Group UCL Health Survey for England webpage.

Changes to the HSE from 2015:
Users should note that from 2015 survey onwards, only the individual data file is available under standard End User Licence (EUL). The household data file is now only included in the Special Licence (SL) version, released from 2015 onwards. In addition, the SL individual file contains all the variables included in the HSE EUL dataset, plus others, including variables removed from the EUL version after the NHS England disclosure review. The SL HSE is subject to more restrictive access conditions than the EUL version (see Access information). Users are advised to obtain the EUL version to see if it meets their needs before considering an application for the SL version.

COVID-19 and the HSE:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the HSE 2020 survey was stopped in March 2020 and never re-started. There was no publication that year. The survey resumed in 2021, albeit with an amended methodology. The full HSE resumed in 2022, with an extended fieldwork period. Due to this, the decision was taken not to progress with the 2023 survey, to maximise the 2022 survey response and enable more robust reporting of data. See the NHS Digital Health Survey for England - Health, social care and lifestyles webpage for more details.

The 2021 HSE included additional topics on physical activity, wellbeing (including loneliness), and gambling. The survey also provided updates on repeated core topics, including general health, long-standing illness, smoking and drinking.

Data from the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN), on domestic energy efficiency in Great Britain, collected between 22 September and 3 October 2021. Questions cover energy in the home, and attitudes to improving energy efficiency in the home.

People's experiences of changes in their cost of living and household finances in Great Britain; indicators from the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN).

Note 08/07/13: Errata for regarding two variables incorrectly labelled with the same description in the Data Archive for the Health Survey for England - 2008 dataset deposited in the UK Data Archive Author: Health and Social Care Information Centre, Lifestyle Statistics Responsible Statistician: Paul Eastwood, Lifestyles Section Head Version: 1 Original date of publication: 17th December 2009 Date of errata: 11th June 2013 · Two physical activity variables (NSWA201 and WEPWA201) in the Health Survey for England - 2008 dataset deposited in the Data Archive had the same description of 'on weekdays in the last week have you done any cycling (not to school)?'. This is correct for NSWA201, but incorrect for WEPWA201 · The correct descriptions are: · NSWA201 - 'on weekdays in the last week have you done any cycling (not to school)?' · WEPWA201 - 'on weekends in the last week have you done any cycling (not to school)?' · This has been corrected and the amended dataset has been deposited in the UK Data Archive. NatCen Social Research and the Health and Social Care Information Centre apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused. Note 18/12/09: Please note that a slightly amended version of the Health Survey for England 2008 report, Volume 1, has been made available on this page on 18 December 2009. This was in order to correct the legend and title of figure 13G on page 321 of this volume. The NHS IC apologises for any inconvenience caused. The Health Survey for England is a series of annual surveys designed to measure health and health-related behaviours in adults and children living in private households in England. The survey was commissioned originally by the Department of Health and, from April 2005 by The NHS Information Centre for health and social care. The Health Survey for England has been designed and carried out since 1994 by the Joint Health Surveys Unit of the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) and the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University College London Medical School (UCL). The 2008 Health Survey for England focused on physical activity and fitness. Adults and children were asked to recall their physical activity over recent weeks, and objective measures of physical activity and fitness were also obtained. A secondary objective was to examine results on childhood obesity and other factors affecting health, including fruit and vegetable consumption, drinking and smoking.