Digitization of nationally-representative nutrition intake data to support policymaking and research via interactive visualizations

Nutrition intake data are widely available for researchers and policymakers for use to direct research and inform dietary recommendations. However, these data are often not in a format that is intuitive, easily accessible, or readily usable. Moreover, estimates from these data can be derived using varying methodologies ranging in complexity. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hosts a dashboard on three health indicators derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) datasets, there is a need for a more comprehensive platform that will visualize nutrition intake associated with nutritional adequacy. A dashboard can reduce the analysis time required for policymakers and researchers to estimate dietary intake and trends among key demographics. The primary objective of this study was to develop a visually-rich, user-friendly, and interactive dashboard for dietary intake of Americans using a robust analytical protocol. The dashboard compiles best dietary analysis practices using population surveys. In doing so, an online, interactive dashboard that displays the usual intake (UI), prevalence of inadequate and excessive intake, for macronutrients and nutrients of public health concern in the non-institutionalized US population has been developed. The dashboard will serve as a first-step to a digital and interactive visualization of nationally-representative data that is easily accessible, efficient, and evidence-based.