1. Patterns and trends in adult diet
These PowerPoint slides present key data and information on adult diet in clear, easy to understand charts and graphics. They have been produced by the Risk Factors Intelligence Team and can be used freely with acknowledgement to ‘Public Health England’.
A presentation of data on adult diet
Updated September 2017

2. Introduction
These slides summarise the latest data from government surveys on adults’ diet and nutritional intake. They are designed as a useful resource for policy makers, practitioners and anyone with an interest in diet and nutrition. A short explanation of each slide is included in the slide notes. The charts provided illustrate population averages. However, dietary intakes can vary considerably across the population and within socio- demographic groups.
Patterns and trends in adult diet

3. Fruit and vegetable intake Adults aged and 65+ years: National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2012/13 to 2013/14)
Around three in eleven (27%) adults aged years eat five or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day
Around four in eleven (35%) adults aged 65 years or over eat five or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day
It is recommended that adults consume at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables per day (one portion is an 80g serving see for more information).
Source:
Note: because of a change in definition these figures should not be compared with previously published slides relating to earlier periods of the NDNS
Patterns and trends in adult diet

4. Trend in fruit and vegetable intake Men and women aged 16+ years: Health Survey for England 2001 to 2015
Consumption of fruit and vegetables among adults changed very little between 2001 and The average number of portions peaked in 2006/2007 (3.6 portions for men and 3.9 portions for women). Women eat more fruit and vegetables than men. In 2015 mean average portions per day for men were 3.4 and for women 3.7.
No survey data available for 2012 or 2014
Patterns and trends in adult diet

5. Fruit and vegetable intake Men and women by age group: Health Survey for England 2015
When looking at age, neither men nor women of any group consume an average of five or more portions of fruit and vegetables per day. For both men and women the highest consumption is in the age group (3.9 portions on average).
Error bars indicate the 95% confidence intervals based on the distribution of numbers of “5 a day” portions consumed.
Patterns and trends in adult diet

6. Fruit and vegetable intake by household income Trends in fruit and vegetable purchases, total and lowest income deciles 1 and 2: Family Food Survey 2006 to 2015
Fruit and vegetable purchasing and consumption are related to household income. The higher the household income, the greater the average number of portions of fruit and vegetables purchased and consumed.
Households with lower incomes consistently purchase fewer portions of fruit and vegetables compared to the average across all households.
In 2015, households in the lowest two income deciles purchased on average 3.1 portions and 3.3 portions per person per day, compared to 3.9 portions for all households.
Income is adjusted to take into account the number of people living in the household (‘equivalised household income’). Splitting the population into ten equal-sized groups (deciles) based on income level allows for comparison across the range of incomes.
Patterns and trends in adult diet

7. Food energy from fat Men and women aged and 65+ years: National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2012/13 to 2013/14)
It is recommended that total fat should contribute no more than 35% of food energy and saturated fat should contribute a maximum of 11% of food energy.
Food energy is defined as the energy obtained from all food and drink in the diet, excluding the energy from alcohol.
On average adult consumption of percentage food energy from fat is at or just below the recommended maximum level.
Sources:
Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy. Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. Norwich TSO: 1991
Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy. Nutritional Aspects of Cardiovascular Disease. London HMSO: 1994
Patterns and trends in adult diet

8. Food energy from saturated fat Men and women aged and 65+ years: National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2012/13 to 2013/14)
Average intakes for both men and women markedly exceed the maximum recommended level of saturated fat.
Sources:
Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy. Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. Norwich TSO: 1991
Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy. Nutritional Aspects of Cardiovascular Disease. London HMSO: 1994
Patterns and trends in adult diet

9. Food energy from non-milk extrinsic sugars Men and women aged and 65+ years: National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2012/13 to 2013/14)
In July 2015 the UK government adopted new advice which recommends that the average intake of “free sugars” should not exceed 5% of total dietary energy. (Source: Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition. Carbohydrates and Health. London: TSO: 2015). Free sugars are those added to food or those naturally present in honey, syrups and unsweetened fruit juices, but exclude lactose in milk and milk products.
In the latest NDNS survey results the closest available data to free sugars are non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES). In future NDNS reports recorded NMEs intakes will be replaced with recorded intake of “free sugars”.
The average intake of NMES for both men and women currently exceeds 10%.
Patterns and trends in adult diet

10. Estimated daily salt intake Men and women aged and 65+ years; National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2008/ /12) and Assessment of dietary sodium (2014)
The recommended maximum salt intake for adults is 6 grams per day (g/day). The latest available data suggest that average salt levels exceed the recommended maximum for adults aged years and 65+ years.
Source: National Diet and Nutrition Survey: Results from 1–4 (combined) of the Rolling Programme (2008/9–2011/12) Executive summary. Current UK diet and nutrition recommendations. Page 10
This data is not collected as part of the rolling programme but will be collected on an ad hoc basis as part of future survey years. Note that unweighted sample sizes for year old men and women are small and so this group may not be fully represented.
Data source: National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2008/09–2011/12)
Patterns and trends in adult diet

11. Consumption of oily fish Men and women aged and 65+ years; National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2012/13 to 2013/14)
It is recommended that adults consume a minimum of at least one portion (140g) of oily fish per week.
Source: Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition 2004 ‘Advice on fish consumption – benefits and risks’
Average consumption of oily fish in adults is well below the recommended minimum of at least one portion (140g) per week. On average, adults aged 19–64 years consume 54g per week and those aged 65+ consume 87g.
Patterns and trends in adult diet

12. Intake of dietary fibre Men and women aged and 65+ years: National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2012/13 to 2013/14)
Currently available data on the fibre intake of the UK population is expressed in terms of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), as NSP were the basis of previous UK recommendations on fibre intake. In light of changing recommendations, future NDNS reports of population fibre intakes will be expressed as AOAC fibre.
In July 2015 the UK government adopted newly published advice from SACN which recommends that the adult population average intake of dietary fibre should be 30g per day. This new recommendation is based on a broader definition of fibre than the previous recommendation. The new recommendation of 30g/day equates to about 23–24g NSP per day, an increase of about 25% over the previous recommendation of 18g NSP per day.
Source: Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition. Carbohydrates and Health. London: TSO: 2015
Average intake of fibre for both men and women is considerably below both the current and previous recommendations.
Patterns and trends in adult diet

13. Survey data sources Health Survey for England (HSE)
content.digital.nhs.uk/healthsurveyengland
National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS)
Family Food statistics
Patterns and trends in adult diet

14. About Public Health England
Public Health England exists to protect and improve the nation’s health and wellbeing, and reduce health inequalities. We do this through world-class science, knowledge and intelligence, advocacy, partnerships and the delivery of specialist public health services. We are an executive agency of the Department of Health, and are a distinct delivery organisation with operational autonomy to advise and support government, local authorities and the NHS in a professionally independent manner.
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Published September 2017 PHE publications gateway number:
Patterns and trends in adult diet