ENNS: National Nutrition and Health Survey

The primary objective of the ENNS study was to describe dietary intake, nutritional status, and physical activity among a nationally representative sample of adults (aged 18–74) and children (aged 3–17) living in mainland France in 2006–2007.

Its secondary objectives were to:

  • describe the prevalence of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, along with their nutritional risk factors and their pharmacological and nutritional management among adults;

  • describe the population’s exposure to certain heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead) and pesticides, as well as their determinants.

The results presented in the report published in 2007 focus on describing the nutritional situation in France based on the PNNS’s target indicators and consumption benchmarks.

Participants were recruited by randomly selecting individuals from households that were themselves selected at random. This recruitment process lasted one year to account for seasonal variations in diet (February 2006–March 2007). In the end, 3,115 adults aged 18 to 74 and 1,675 children aged 3 to 17 living in ordinary households (i.e., people sharing the same primary residence, whether or not they are related) in metropolitan France were included.

The dietary survey involved asking the selected participants to describe, as precisely as possible, during three interviews randomly scheduled over a 15-day period, all the foods and beverages consumed the day before the interview. A biological, nutritional, and environmental assessment was offered to participants to complement this dietary survey. For children, this involved measuring weight and height and collecting a hair sample (to assess their exposure to mercury). For adults, the examination included measurements of weight, height, waist circumference, and hip circumference, blood pressure, as well as biological markers (total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL, triglycerides, hemoglobin, ferritin, blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, creatinine, urinary iodine, folate, vitamin D) and environmental contaminants (pesticides, lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, etc.) through blood, urine, and hair samples. Physical activity and sedentary behavior were assessed using data collected via questionnaires adapted to the subject’s age.

This information was supplemented by sociodemographic data, information regarding specific diets, medication use, smoking and alcohol consumption, prior knowledge of diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, or hypertension, environmental exposures, etc.

The ENNS did not include children under 3 years of age or individuals over 75 years of age, who were instead considered in specific studies (see the Epifane study for children under 3, and the Anais study for older adults living in institutions).

The survey staff consisted of health or nutrition professionals (dietitians, nurses, physicians) recruited and trained by Santé publique France.

Since the 2007 conference and the publication of the study report, numerous analyses have been conducted using the database created during the ENNS study, both within the nutrition program and in other programs. The data have also been used in international projects as reference data for France.

The initial findings of the National Nutrition and Health Survey were presented on December 12, 2007, at a symposium organized by the Directorate General for Health. On that occasion, a report describing the nutritional situation based on the PNNS’s target indicators and benchmarks, using data from the ENNS survey, was released.

Report

Nutrition Surveillance and Epidemiology Unit (Usen). National Nutrition and Health Study (ENNS, 2006). Nutritional Situation in France in 2006 According to the Target Indicators and Benchmarks of the National Nutrition and Health Program (PNNS). Institute for Public Health Surveillance, University of Paris 13, National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts, 2007, 74 p.

Abstracts

Slides

National Nutrition and Health Study (ENNS, 2006). Nutritional status in France according to the target indicators and benchmarks of the National Nutrition and Health Program (PNNS). PNNS Symposium, December 12, 2007 [oral presentation]. 

One of the main objectives of the National Nutrition and Health Survey (ENNS) conducted in 2006–2007 was to describe the nutritional status of the population living in France. The distribution tables serve this purpose by providing, by sex and age group, the distribution of adults and children according to:

  • energy and nutrient intakes;

  • food group consumption;

  • physical activity and sedentary behavior;

  • measured anthropometric data;

and among adults:

  • blood pressure;

  • biological measurements related to cardiovascular risk, vitamins, minerals, and iron.

A methodological document describes the elements necessary for understanding data processing and analysis, and for constructing the presented indicators. Given the sampling and collection methods, these data can be used as reference information for local studies or those focusing on specific populations.

Diet

Physical Activity and Sedentary Lifestyle

Nutritional status

Since the 2007 symposium, further analyses have been conducted using the database compiled during the ENNS study, both as part of the nutritional surveillance program and other initiatives. These data have also been used in international projects as reference data for France, particularly the Global Burden of Disease Project.

Articles in French

Articles in English

Distribution of values

  • Andreeva VA, Deschamps V, Salanave B, Castetbon K, Verdot C, Kesse-Guyot E, Hercberg S. Generalizability of dietary data in e-epidemiological research: The French Nutri-Net-Santé and ENNS studies. Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism 2015; 67(suppl 1):238-239. Congress of the Federation of European Nutrition Societies (FENS), October 20–23, 2015, Berlin [oral presentation].

  • Deschamps V, Julia C, Salanave B, Verdot C, Hercberg S, Castetbon K. Application of the Food Standards Agency Nutrient Profiling System: consistency with nutritional recommendations in French adults. International Conference on Diet and Activity Methods, ICDAM-9, September 1–3, 2015, Brisbane, Australia [poster].

  • Deschamps V, Julia C, Salanave B, Verdot C, Hercberg S, Castetbon K. Application of the Food Standards Agency Nutrient Profiling System to Individual Diet in French Adults. Congress of the Federation of European Nutrition Societies (FENS), October 20–23, 2015, Berlin [poster].

  • Vernay M, Seco A, Deschamps V, Salanave B, Hercberg S, Castetbon K. Body weight control in the adult population, National Nutrition and Health Survey, France, 2006–2007. 2014 ADELF-EPITER Congress, September 10–12, 2014, Nice, France [Oral presentation].

  • Vernay M, Salanave B, de Peretti C, Druet C, Malon A, Deschamps V, Hercberg S, Castetbon K. Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome According to Socioeconomic Status in France: The French Nutrition and Health Survey (ENNS, 2006–2007). 5th International Congress on Prediabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome, April 18–20, 2013, Vienna, Austria [Poster].

  • Castetbon K, Vernay M, Deschamps V, Bonaldi C, Salanave B, Hercberg S. Nutritional behaviors and morbidity based on surveillance data. ENNS 2006-07, France. 5th International Congress of Epidemiology Adelf/Epiter, September 12–14, 2012, Brussels, Belgium. [Oral presentation].

  • Vernay M, Sponga M, Salanave B, Oleko A, Deschamps V, Castetbon K. Vitamin D status in adults (National Nutrition and Health Survey, 2006–2007). France. 5th Adelf/Epiter International Congress of Epidemiology, September 12–14, 2012, Brussels, Belgium. [Poster].

  • Castetbon K, Méjean C, Deschamps V, Vernay M, Salanave B, Hercberg S. Dietary inadequacy and food consumption in the general population. ENNS, 2006–07, France. 5th Adelf/Epiter International Congress of Epidemiology, September 12–14, 2012, Brussels, Belgium. [Poster].

  • Castetbon K, Deschamps V, Salanave B, Hajj Hassan R, Vernay M, Malon A, Hercberg S. Compared to 24-hour recall data, self-perceived food intake frequencies exhibit misclassification differentially across food groups. International Conference on Diet and Activity Methods, May 12–14, 2012, Rome, Italy. [Poster]

  • Vernay M, Sponga M, Salanave B, Oleko A, Deschamps V, Malon A, Castetbon K. Vitamin D status of the adult population in France: the National Nutrition and Health Survey (ENNS, 2006–2007). Francophone Nutrition Conference. Reims. December 6–9, 2011. [oral presentation].

  • Aïdara M, Vernay M, Salanave B, Malon A, Deschamps V, Oléko A, Hercberg S, Castetbon K. Diet according to blood pressure categories in 18-74-year-old French adults: the French Nutrition and Health Survey (ENNS, 2006-2007). European Society of Hypertension: Hypertension Milan 2009, June 12–16, 2009, Milan, Italy [Oral presentation].

  • Bonaldi C, Vernay M, Roudier C, Salanave B, Castetbon K, Fagot-Campagna A. Prevalence of diabetes among adults aged 18 to 74 living in mainland France. National Nutrition and Health Survey, 2006–2007. Alfediam Congress 2009, March 17–20, 2009, Strasbourg, France [oral presentation].