The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the most comprehensive survey of the health and nutritional status of the U.S. population, is coming to Duval County beginning on November 21, 2016. All counties in the United States had a chance to be selected for the NHANES and this year, Duval County is one of 15 counties that was selected to be part of this initiative. NHANES provides important data on public health problems from a national perspective.

“This is a great opportunity for Duval County”, said Dr. Kelli T. Wells, Director of the Florida Department of Health in Duval County.  “The selection of Duval County for the NHANES provides our community with the opportunity to participate in research to help ensure community health efforts have the desired impacts.”

Each year, 5,000 lucky residents across the nation have the chance to participate in the latest National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“NHANES serves as the nation’s ‘health check-up,’ going into communities to collect health information throughout the country,” said CDC Director Thomas Frieden. “The survey is a unique resource for health information, and without it we would lack important knowledge about major health conditions.” 

For the past 55 years, NHANES has had a prominent role in improving the health of all people living in the U.S. public health officials, legislators, and physicians use the information gathered in NHANES to develop sound health policies, direct and design health programs and services, and expand the health knowledge for the nation. NHANES findings provide critical health-related information on a number of issues such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In addition, NHANES data are used to produce national references and are used to create standardized growth charts for pediatricians across the country.

“Duval County has been provided the opportunity to contribute to the NHANES and share important health data for our nation,” said Council President Lori Boyer, “I encourage everyone who is invited to take part in the survey to help improve health issues for our community.”

Everyone in the U.S., from babies yet to be born to the elderly, has benefited from the information gathered by NHANES.  The comprehensive data collected by NHANES has a far-reaching and significant impact on everything from the quality of the air we breathe, to the vaccinations you get from your doctor, to the emergence of low-fat and “light” foods on the shelves of your grocery store.  Now, a NHANES team of health professionals, nutritionists and health technicians is heading toward Duval County and wants everyone who is lucky enough to be selected for the survey to agree to participate.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

Contact: Charles Griggs 
charles.griggs@flhealth.gov
904-253-1004