About
- The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) provides data about America's health and nutrition.
- Federal agencies, researchers, and partners rely on unique NHANES data about undiagnosed health conditions, nutrition, exposure to chemicals in the environment, and more.
- They use our data to study health, make policy, and develop resources.
Who uses our data
A wide range of people use data and resources from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
- Federal agencies develop policy and standards based on NHANES findings
- Federal, academic, and private researchers publish health and nutrition studies using NHANES data
- University students analyze the data files to learn about public health research
- Professional medical organizations based clinical guidelines on NHANES data
Federal partners
CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) partners with other federal agencies and programs to design and develop NHANES questions and procedures. These partners also help to develop products that share NHANES data.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and NCHS coordinate to plan NHANES collection of dietary and nutrition information. USDA reports the findings in What We Eat in America.
The National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and other CDC centers coordinate with NCHS to collect data they need. These agencies and programs base decisions, programs, and policies on high-quality NHANES data about health conditions and risk factors.
How they use our data
NHANES data identify current and future health and healthcare needs of people across the nation. Government agencies, community organizations, non-profits, and businesses use this information to guide their efforts. They consider NHANES data when creating policies and planning research, education, and health improvement and disease prevention programs and services. They also track NHANES results over time to determine the impact of these efforts.
NHANES data give researchers important information about diseases and conditions. They use NHANES data to understand how widespread these health problems are, what behaviors and settings make them more or less common, and what unanswered questions require more research.