Filling the void - substitute health information sources for the Prevention Index, which is to be discontinued

American Demographics, May, 1997 by Shannon Dortch

If you depended on the Prevention Index each year, you may need to piece together comparable data from several sources. Here are a few:

Roper Starch Worldwide, Inc. of New York City asks adults many questions about their health, ranging from eating habits, to stress levels, to doctor visits; telephone (212) 5990700. Sports participation and fitness information are collected by the National Sporting Goods Association of Mt. Prospect, Illinois; telephone (708) 439-4000, and American Sports Data, Inc., of Hartsdale, New York; telephone (914) 328-8877.

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) collects reams of information on the health of adults and children. A catalog of the center's publications, including an index of health topics, is available on its web site at http://www.cdc.gov/nch swww/products/products.htm. For a compilation of health data, see the annual Health, United States. The most recent volume is for 1995.

Notable surveys from the NCHS include the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, an ongoing study of self-reported nutrient intake. And the National Health Interview Survey measures many health indicators, from use of mammography to cigarette-smoking rates. For more information, contact the center at (301) 436-8500.