Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), Household Youth Data, 1988-94
Investigators: United States Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)

The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) is the seventh in a series of national examination studies conducted in the United States beginning in 1960. Three of these studies, the National Health Examination Surveys (NHES) were conducted in the 1960's. Beginning in 1970 a large nutrition component was added to the basic design, and the name was changed to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). A special study of Hispanic populations in the United States was conducted in 1982-84, Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, (HHANES). These studies have contributed to our knowledge of public health in the United States and have contributed to the formulation and conduct of public health policy.

The sample for the NHANES III was selected from households in 81 counties across the United States. The survey period is 1988-1994, consisting of two phases of equal length and sample size. Both Phase 1 and Phase 2 comprise random samples of the U.S. population living in households. About 40,000 persons 2 months of age and over were selected and asked to complete an extensive interview and an examination in a large mobile examination center.

The NHANES III Household Youth Data File contains all data collected during the household interviews for children and youths 2 months to 16 years of age. Demographic data, survey design variables, and sampling weights for this age group are also included. The data that comprise this file were obtained from three separate interviews administered in the household: the Screener, the Family, and Household Youth questionnaires.