The Stockholm Public Health Survey (now known as Health Stockholm) was designed to collect information on the health of the population in Stockholm County. Beginning in 2002-2003, the Stockholm Public Health Surveys were conducted every four years; each year, the samples from previous rounds were surveyed along with a new cross-sectional sample. Together, the cohorts from each survey are known as the Stockholm Public Health Cohort (SPHC).

Each cross-sectional cohort sample was selected from the Swedish Total Population Register; in 2006-2007, the cohort included 34,700 participants aged 18 to 84. Self-reported data were collected through postal and web-based questionnaires, covering topics such as health status, height and weight, tobacco and alcohol use, physical activity, employment, and mental health. In addition to self-reported data, the SPHC also collected information through regional and national health and population registers based on participants' national registration numbers.