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	Vol.7, No 58, December 9, 1999
	National health survey hits L.B. By Christine Rhee Daily Forty-Niner Since the beginning of this month, Long Beach residents of all ages have been participating in a national health survey and nutritional research project conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, or NHANES, is designed to measure the overall health of Americans. Residents from various cities within Los Angeles County will be asked to take part in the survey until February. Data collected from interviews and physical examinations of participants will further expand the department's research about the health of U.S. citizens, said Barbara Hill, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human services who is also involved with the national survey. "The survey results will be national guidelines of what we will need and where the needs are on a statistical basis to prevent illness and diseases, while improving the well-being of the U.S. population," said Robert Cuellar, a coordinator for the city of Long Beach. Census takers from the U.S. Public Health Services will interview participants in their homes. Physical examinations will take place in a mobile trailer containing state-of-the-art scientific equipment and a trained medical team, Cuellar said. Survey respondents will participate in four examinations, said Jeff Lancashiri, department spokesman. Subjects will first take an eye test, participate in a dietary interview to measure fat content and run on a treadmill to rate their level of fitness. The medical examiners will then take blood samples to search for blood-related conditions, and a body scanner will scan the participant for an accurate assessment of muscular and skeletal diseases such as osteoporosis. Next, the participants will receive hearing and dental exams followed by weight measurements, which will determine children's growth rate and estimate the level of obesity. The information collected by NHANES be used by officials from Congress, state and local governments while public health officials, such as physicians and pediatricians, will use the survey findings to better assist the health problems of the population, Cuellar said. "If the data shows that a participant has a life-threatening disease or a severe illness, we will immediately refer them to a specialist," Cuellar said. He said adults will receive $70 and children under 12 will receive $30 for participating in the survey. Cuellar also said that the survey center will do anything to accommodate participants from providing compensation for ride fares to reimbursing parents to pay for child care. "We would hope that the community will participate and cooperate with us because the survey will impact the whole nation," Cuellar said. After testing Los Angeles County residents, census takers and medical examiners will look at residents of San Diego, Riverside and Ventura counties. The survey will then go on to Texas, Oklahoma and other states nationwide, Hill said.		Professor helps L.B.P.D. research Asian criminals   National health survey hits L.B.   Speech, debate team grabs first   Music instructor not singing blues   Student beats shopping challenge   POLICE LOG Walk through racism   Alcohol, drugs lead to teenage sex   Professors don't profit from books Circus Dragon   'Deuce' humorous   Led Zeppelin produces another classic release Scott's success goes beyond LBSU Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.