Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
A large, ongoing CDC-run telephone survey that collects state-level data on U.S. adults' health behaviors, chronic conditions, and preventive-service use. It is a primary source for public-health surveillance and population health planning.
What is the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)?
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a large, continuously run telephone survey coordinated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that collects information from adults about their health behaviors, chronic conditions, and use of preventive services. It gathers responses across all states, producing state-level estimates.
Conducted on an ongoing basis, it captures topics such as tobacco use, physical activity, screening uptake, and the prevalence of conditions like diabetes and hypertension. Its scale makes it one of the most established sources of self-reported health data in the country.
Why is the BRFSS important?
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a primary input for public-health surveillance, letting agencies track how health risks and behaviors change over time and differ across populations. These data help identify emerging concerns and evaluate the reach of prevention efforts.
Planners and researchers use it to guide population health strategy, target interventions, and benchmark progress against health goals. Because it spans states and years, it supports both local decisions and national comparisons.
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