NHANES, the nation’s most comprehensive health and nutritional survey of the U.S. population is coming to Roswell, NM

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is sponsored by the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). NHANES has been traveling across the country learning about the health of the U.S. population since 1960.

Have you ever wondered how health care providers know what’s considered a healthy blood pressure? NHANES collects a broad range of data that addresses everything from the chemicals people are exposed to in their environment to the tracking of critical health concerns, such as high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes. Public health officials and legislators use this information to develop public health policies, like eliminating lead from gasoline and soft drink cans. NHANES data also help produce national baseline information, like blood pressure or cholesterol averages, and standardized growth charts used by physicians across the country.

“NHANES serves as the nation’s ‘health check-up’ by going into communities throughout the country to collect health information.”
— Carolyn Greene, MD, Acting Director of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)

All U.S. counties and cities are eligible for NHANES, but this year, Roswell has been selected areas to be part of this initiative. A random sample of about 150 households will receive a letter inviting them to be part of NHANES. By selecting a random sample, NHANES data can more accurately represent the U.S. population.

Those who receive letters will be contacted by an NHANES staff member to complete a brief survey to see if anyone in their home is eligible to take part. Eligible participants will complete an interview at their home, followed by a health exam at the NHANES Mobile Exam Center at a convenient time. The Mobile Exam Center is specifically equipped to collect height and weight, blood pressure, body composition, vision, audiometry, oral health, spirometry, and multiple other types of exams, although specific measurements and exams depend on a participant’s age and sex.

Taking part in NHANES is voluntary. All information collected is kept confidential, and individual privacy is protected by law.

As a thank you for taking part in NHANES, participants receive:

• Free health exams at the NHANES Mobile Exam Center and results that can be shared with their health care providers
• Compensation for transportation and child or adult care costs
• A generous token of appreciation for their time

Collecting timely information on the status of the nation’s health is critical. Participation in the survey is by invitation only, so be on the lookout for your letter and for the Mobile Exam Center, located on the Eastern New Mexico University – Roswell campus from early April to early May.

For more information, visit https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/.

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