What does the NHANES study evaluate?

The NHANES study, which stands for the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, is designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. It combines several components, including nutritional, clinical, and biochemical assessments, making its scope quite comprehensive.

The nutritional component evaluates dietary intake through interviews and questionnaires. This gathers data on the food and beverages consumed by participants, enabling researchers to identify dietary patterns and their associations with health outcomes.

The clinical assessment involves physical examinations conducted by health professionals, which helps in identifying medical conditions that may be affected by nutritional status. This includes measurements such as height, weight, and blood pressure.

The biochemical component involves laboratory tests on blood and urine samples taken from participants. These tests provide essential data on various biomarkers related to nutrition and health, such as blood glucose levels, cholesterol levels, and micronutrient status.

The integration of these three areas—nutritional, clinical, and biochemical—enables NHANES to provide a well-rounded understanding of public health, nutrition, and chronic diseases in the U.S. population, thereby informing health policies and programs.