This page provides information about NDNS methods, data, documentation, biological samples and research findings.
NDNS collects information about:
food and drink consumption
nutrient intake
demographic and socio-economic characteristics
eating habits
physical activity
height and weight
nutritional biomarkers measured in blood and urine
The wider NDNS programme also includes periodic studies of energy expenditure and sodium intake.
The NDNS is currently in its fourth phase (2024 to 2029) with a larger annual sample size and updated tools to track what people eat and drink.
A sample of 4,000 people each year are recruited from across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This phase includes all ages from 12 months and above and pregnant/breastfeeding women.
Sample numbers are boosted in Northern Ireland to provide representative data for the Country and comparisons to the UK.
The main survey includes collection of demographic, socio-economic and other questionnaire variables, dietary assessment via Intake24, physical activity data collection, height and weight, and nutritional biomarkers.
This funding phase also includes a sub-study to measure energy expenditure and a 24 hour urine survey to measure sodium intake.
The NDNS is a cross-sectional survey and runs as a rolling programme (since 2008).
Detailed information about survey methods is provided in the appendices to published NDNS reports.
View NDNS reports and their methodological appendices
In addition you can read ourData Resource Profile which describes the data and samples available from NDNS Years 1 to 11, covering 2008 to 2019, and from earlier surveys.
Dietary intake is estimated from information collected using Intake24, an online dietary assessment tool, provided by the University of Cambridge Nutrition Measurement Platform. NDNS participants use Intake24 to report all of the food and drink consumed during the previous 24 hours. They are asked to complete Intake24 on four occasions during the survey.
Blood and urine samples are collected and used to measure a range of nutritional biomarkers. These provide information about nutritional intake and status that cannot always be obtained from dietary information alone.
The University of Cambridge Nutritional Biomarker Laboratory is the lead laboratory for NDNS and carries out a range of established nutritional biomarker analyses.
Find out more about the Nutritional Biomarker Laboratory and its methods
Blood and urine samples are collected and used to measure a range of nutritional biomarkers. These provide information about nutritional intake and status that cannot always be obtained from dietary information alone.
The University of Cambridge Nutritional Biomarker Laboratory is the lead laboratory for NDNS and carries out a range of established nutritional biomarker analyses.
Find out more about the Nutritional Biomarker Laboratory and its methods
Every 4 to 5 years, the survey carries out a sub-study to measure total energy expenditure (TEE) using the doubly labelled water biomarker method. This provides a benchmark to evaluate the accuracy of participants’ self-reported energy intakes.
Separate studies are carried out periodically for the assessment of sodium intake. In this contract phase, a 24-hour urinary excretion study in England is being carried out to monitor population intake and evaluate progress against national public health targets.
Explore NDNS findings through the interactive data dashboard, published survey reports and research publications.
Use the dashboard to explore results from UK NDNS Years 12 to 15, including food consumption, nutrient intake, nutritional biomarkers, physical activity and survey response rates.
Read published NDNS reports and find research that has used NDNS data.
NDNS data are deposited with the UK Data Service after the corresponding results have been published.
The available datasets include information collected through questionnaires, dietary assessment, physical measurements and biological samples.
The measures and information available varies between survey years.
Blood and urine biological samples collected through NDNS are held as part of the NDNS Bioresource.
Researchers can apply to use available samples and associated data for suitable research projects.
Contact us
If you have a question about the survey methods, available research resources or how to access data and samples contact the NDNS team
