Update on National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dietary data: Focus on collection, release, analytical considerations, and uses to inform public policy

Authors: AHLUWALIA, NAMAN - National Center For Health Statistics; DWYER, JOHANNA - National Institutes Of Health (NIH); TERRY, ANA - National Center For Health Statistics; Moshfegh, Alanna; JOHNSON, CLIFFORD - National Center For Health Statistics

Submitted to: Advances in Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2015
Publication Date: 1/1/2016
Citation: Ahluwalia, N., Dwyer, J., Terry, A., Moshfegh, A., Johnson, C. 2016. Update on NHANES dietary data: Focus on collection, release, analytical considerations, and uses to inform public policy. Advances in Nutrition. 7:121-134.

Interpretive Summary: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is the cornerstone for national nutrition monitoring to inform nutrition and health policy. Nutritional assessment in NHANES is described with a focus on dietary data collection, analysis, and uses in nutrition monitoring. NHANES has been collecting thorough data on diet, nutritional status, and chronic disease in cross-sectional surveys with nationally representative samples since early 1970s. Continuous data collection in NHANES began in 1999 with public data release in 2-year cycles. In 2002, the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals and the NHANES dietary component were merged into What We Eat in America; since then, 24-hour recalls have been collected on two days using the USDA’s Automated Multiple-Pass Method. NHANES dietary data are used to describe intake of foods, nutrients, food groups, and dietary patterns by the U.S. population and large sociodemographic groups to plan and evaluate nutrition programs and policies. NHANES remains open and flexible to incorporate improvements while maintaining data quality and providing timely data release to track the nation’s nutrition and health status.

Technical Abstract: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is the cornerstone for national nutrition monitoring to inform nutrition and health policy. Nutritional assessment in NHANES is described with a focus on dietary data collection, analysis, and uses in nutrition monitoring. NHANES has been collecting thorough data on diet, nutritional status, and chronic disease in cross-sectional surveys with nationally representative samples since early 1970s. Continuous data collection in NHANES began in 1999 with public data release in 2-year cycles. In 2002, the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals and the NHANES dietary component were merged into What We Eat in America; since then, 24-hour recalls have been collected on two days using the USDA’s Automated Multiple-Pass Method. Detailed and targeted food frequency questionnaires have been collected in some NHANES cycles. Dietary supplement use data have been collected (in detail since 2007) so that total nutrient intakes can be described for the population. The continuous NHANES can adapt its content to address emerging public health needs and reflect federal priorities. Changes in data collection methods are made after expert input and validation/crossover studies. NHANES dietary data are used to describe intake of foods, nutrients, food groups, and dietary patterns by the U.S. population and large sociodemographic groups to plan and evaluate nutrition programs and policies. Usual intake distributions can be estimated after adjusting for day-to-day variation. NHANES remains open and flexible to incorporate improvements while maintaining data quality and providing timely data release to track the nation’s nutrition and health status.