New York City Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

The New York City Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NYC HANES) is a community-based health survey. Two surveys have been conducted, one in 2004 and the most recent one in 2013-14. The first survey was conducted by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and the second by the CUNY School of Public Health and DOHMH.
NYC HANES is modeled after a similar national survey - the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). NHANES has been conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics for more than 35 years. Information from NHANES has led to important improvements in American health care and nutrition. Learn more about NHANES.

The data collected enabled the DOHMH to learn how many New Yorkers suffered from basic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and depression. With this critical information, DOHMH can better direct the City's resources to the health needs of New Yorkers.

NYC HANES 2013-2014

The CUNY School of Public Health and the New York City Health Department conducted a second NYC HANES with grant funding in 2013-2014. Adults from randomly selected NYC households were asked to answer survey questions and take a physical exam to provide a picture of the city’s health almost 10 years after the first NYC HANES. This second survey collected data from 1527 New Yorkers. It enables researchers to examine changes in the city’s health over two points in time and assess the impact of important health policy initiatives that occurred since 2004. The findings give public health professionals and elected officials the information they need to:

  • develop and fund new health programs
  • introduce new health regulations and new laws
  • educate the public about increasing health risks

Learn more about the 2013-14 NYC HANES methods and publications.

NYC HANES 2013-14 Datasets and Related Documentation

NYC HANES 2004

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene conducted the first NYC HANES in 2004. Through a detailed health survey and a brief physical exam, NYC HANES collected data from nearly 2,000 New Yorkers.

Since the first NYC HANES was conducted in 2004, researchers have published more than 20 scientific articles. Those research articles led to action that improved the health of all New York City residents. Some of the scientific articles also contributed to the nation-wide conversation about public health.

Researchers used NYC HANES data to learn more about how many New Yorkers have health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and depression and how well these conditions are controlled. They have also learned about environmental exposures, including second-hand tobacco smoke, lead and mercury. Findings from the study have led to changes in New York City laws and regulations as well as to educational campaigns to improve the health of New Yorkers.

Learn more about the 2004 NYC HANES methods, publications and download the public use dataset.