National Nutrition Monitoring System

This issue contains three articles and two related reports on the National Nutrition Monitoring System (NNMS), an umbrella designation for a variety of activities carried out primarily by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Uses of NNMS data are legion; some examples are provided. Full exploitation of NNMS data has been hampered by lack of coordination, delays in processing, and limited understanding on the part of the nutrition community. There has been recent progress in coordinating NNMS activities. Improved understanding among members of the nutrition community will require continued educational efforts.