NHANES Data Project
Description:
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), initiated in the early 1960s, is a pivotal program designed to gauge the health and nutritional status of adults and children across the United States. Spearheaded by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), which is a subsidiary of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), NHANES is distinguished by its amalgamation of interview data and physical examinations to curate a comprehensive health profile of the U.S. population.
Evolution and Significance:
Since its inception, NHANES has undergone several transitions, with a monumental shift in 1999 when it transitioned into a continuous program. This shift has allowed NHANES to remain nimble, adapting its focus to various health and nutrition measurements to meet contemporary needs and challenges, and examining a nationally representative sample of approximately 5,000 individuals annually, across 15 counties.
NHANES plays a vital role in discerning the prevalence of major diseases, risk factors, and the relationship between nutritional status and health promotion and disease prevention. This information becomes foundational in establishing national standards for metrics such as height, weight, and blood pressure, and propels the development of public health policy, as well as driving the design and direction of health programs and services.
Aim of the Project:
Analysis of basic health checks and identifying trends in laboratory, examination and dietary data based on gender and race.