5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT:

Orange County (OC) has been selected to participate in a unique opportunity to monitor the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) which is underway. The NHANES website provides information on the survey and its importance to our health.

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Participants are screened for selection and there is no cost for participation. At the end of the examination each participant receives a personal health assessment. Participants are also compensated. For more on how residents are selected and the information collected click here

NHANES results from OC will be combined with results nationwide and then analyzed to: Provide statistics that inform public health policy and services; Identify risk factors for certain diseases; Reduce problems associated with heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol and more.

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“It’s very important for residents to take part if they are invited to do so,” said Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, County Health Officer. “If you have the chance to take part, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to determine the health of our nation,” she said. Anyone with questions on the survey can call NHANES toll-free at 1-855-958-0631, Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pacific Time.

NHANES along with the importance of health and nutrition in OC were the focus of the most recent episode of the OC Health Care Agency’s livestream show Your Health Matters OC. The discussion focused on the importance of OC residents taking part in the NHANES survey and the connection of health and nutrition to food insecurity in OC. Data from Feeding America estimates 12% of children in OC face food insecurity while 37% of adults in OC face food insecurity. You can watch the episode here.