The HANES experience: how examination surveys can aid research on hypertension and obesity

A major national probability sample survey program, HANES is a potential source of data obtained by standardized health examinations. Some of the hundreds of items collected are noted as relevant to studies of obesity and hypertension. Microdata tapes can be obtained at nominal cost for study of interrelationships within a "normal population'. Problems in conducting such surveys and ways to cope with them are described.