The Allied Dunbar National Fitness Survey (ADNFS) was conducted in a representative sample of English adults aged 16 to 96 years, between February and November 1990. A total of 4,316 participants (76% response rate) were interviewed about a range of socio-demographic characteristics and lifestyle factors, such as diet, physical activity (type, frequency and duration), smoking, alcohol, sleep, stress and social support. A subsample of 2,767 participants also took part in a physical appraisal which included objective assessment of body dimension, composition, flexibility, and cardio-respiratory and muscular fitness.
ADNFS was commissioned by the Health Education Authority and The Sports Council, with funding from the Department of Health, Health Education Authority, The Sports Council and Allied Dunbar Insurance plc.
Contact
For information about the Allied Dunbar National Fitness Survey, please contact Dr Soren Brage, soren.brage@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk
Publications
Selected publications:
Long G, Watkinson C, Brage S, Morris J, Tuxworth B et al. Mortality benefits of population-wide adherence to national physical activity guidelines: a prospective cohort study. Eur J Epidemiol 30:71–79, 2015. PMID: 25377532
Information for researchers
Status
Field work completed, passive follow-up ongoing.
Unit role
The MRC Epidemiology Unit has been responsible for linking ADNFS with mortality and other health endpoint data at the Office of National Statistics (ONS), and more recently NHS Digital.
Funding
MRC core funding (MC_UU_12015/1, MC_UU_12015/3, MC_UU_12015/4) for data preservation and data linkage.
Data sharing
Please see our Data Sharing pages for more information.
Published Reports
More information can be found at the ADNFS Study reports:
Activity and Health Research. Allied Dunbar National Fitness Survey. A report on Activity Patterns and Fitness levels: Main Findings. London: Sports Council and Health Education Authority, 1992.
Fentem PH, Collins MF, Tuxworth W, Walker A, Hoinville E, Cooke C, et al. Allied Dunbar National Fitness Survey. Technical Report. London: Sports Council, 1994.
