County selected for National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey | Miami Herald

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be conducting a study in Miami-Dade County starting Sunday, Nov. 23.

The Nation Center for Health Statistics — which is part of the CDC — will be leading the major survey “of the health of persons living in the United States,” according to a press release.

Interviewers will be calling households to get demographic information used to identify and select people for the examination.

The survey will combine interviews and physical examinations. The interviewer will determine the person’s eligibility. If the person is eligible, the interviewer will ask questions regarding health history at home. Then, an appointment will be made for a one-time health exam at a mobile facility.

The survey will run through Feb. 13. and about 530 people will be asked to participate in the survey at random, based on U.S. Census information. Volunteers are not accepted.

The county was selected as one of the survey locations for the “National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey,” (NHANES). It is designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States.

“You will receive a health exam and results at no cost to you. Your specific exams are based on your age, gender, and current medical conditions,” said a NHANES spokeswoman in a video. “The results will probably give you a more detailed picture of your overall health than a routine doctor’s visit. You will also receive compensation for your time.”

According to the CDC’s website, in the past, “the survey has led to improvements in the food we eat and the health care we receive, as it teaches us about the health and diet of people in the United States.”

Survey results also contribute to the Pediatric Growth Charts found in doctor’s offices to monitor children’s height and weight.

The data is also often used to identify national health trends, including the tracking of obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.

The last survey conducted in Miami-Dade was in October 2012.