Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Food Surveys Research Group » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #359364
Title: Food Patterns Equivalents Intakes by Americans: What We Eat in America, NHANES 2003-2004 and 2015-2016

Author
item Bowman, Shanthy
item Clemens, John
item Friday, James
item SCHROEDER, NATALIA - University Of Maryland
item SHIMIZU, MIYUKI - University Of Maryland
item Lacomb, Randy
item Moshfegh, Alanna

Submitted to: Worldwide Web Site: Food Surveys Research Group
Publication Type: Research Technical Update
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/20/2018
Publication Date: 11/28/2018
Citation: Bowman, S.A., Clemens, J.C., Friday, J.E., Schroeder, N., Shimizu, M., LaComb, R.P., Moshfegh, A.J. 2018. Food Patterns Equivalents Intakes by Americans: What We Eat in America, NHANES 2003-2004 and 2015-2016. Worldwide Web Site: Food Surveys Research Group. Available: https://www.ars.usda.gov/nea/bhnrc/fsrg/wweia/dbrief.

Interpretive Summary: The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020 (DGA) encourage Americans to increase their fruit, vegetables, and whole grains intakes and limit intakes of added sugars and solid fats. This report highlights the changes in the dietary intakes of selected USDA Food Patterns groups, including added sugars and solid fats, by Americans from What We Eat in America, NHANES 2003-2004 and 2015-2016. The estimated mean intakes of added sugars by Americans substantially decreased by 4.8 teaspoon equivalents (tsp. eq.) or 20.2 grams, from 21 tsp. eq. in 2003-2004 to 16.2 tsp. eq. in 2015-2016, per day. Although Americans have reduced their added sugars intake, their mean intake is still high. One of the reasons for the reduction may include the increased availability of beverages and snacks that are relatively low in caloric sweeteners or contain sugar substitutes, thereby enabling Americans to choose food and beverages that are sugar-free or low in added sugars. Other notable changes in the same period included a 12.8 gram reduction in the intake of solid fats and a small, but statistically significant, increase in the whole grains intake from 0.6 to 0.9 oz. eq. No changes were noted in the fruit and total meat, poultry, and seafood intakes from 2003-2004 to 2015-2016. The proportion of solid fats and oils to total fat in the American diet changed for the better. Americans consumed a lower proportion of their total fat as solid fats. These changes could be due to the replacement of hydrogenated oils with unhydrogenated oils in fried food products, snack foods, and in margarine. Americans continued to eat only a small percentage of total grains as whole grains.

Technical Abstract: This report highlights the changes in the dietary intakes of selected USDA Food Patterns groups, including added sugars and solid fats, for the U.S. population from What We Eat in America, NHANES 2003-2004 to 2015-2016. The nationally representative sample included 8,272 and 7,918 individuals, ages 2 years and over (excluding breast-fed children) with complete and reliable intake records, in the 2003-2004 and 2015-2016 surveys, respectively. Sample weights were applied in the analysis to get nationally representative estimates. Overall, the estimated mean daily intake of added sugars by all individuals, ages 2 years and over, substantially decreased by 4.8 teaspoon equivalents (tsp. eq.) or 20.2 grams. Also, substantial reductions were noted in added sugars intakes among each of the age groups studied: children ages 2-5, 6-11, and 12-19; and adults, ages 20+ years. Although Americans have reduced their added sugars intake, their mean intake is still high when compared to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020 recommendations. The estimated mean intake of solid fats, for all individuals 2 years and over, substantially decreased by 12.7 grams, from 47.6 to 34.9 grams. Similar, reductions were noted in each of the age groups studied. For all individuals, ages 2 years and over, the estimated mean intakes of oils significantly increased by 7.9 grams, from 19.2 to 27.1 grams. Though statistically significant, the increase in whole grains intake was very small. On average, Americans consumed 6.4 ounce equivalents of total grains. However, only 0.9 ounce equivalent was consumed as whole grains, which was far below the Dietary Guidelines recommendations to eat 50 percent of total grains as whole grains. No appreciable changes were noted in the fruit; vegetables; dairy; and total meat, poultry, and seafood intakes from 2003-2004 to 2015-2016 among all Americans. Mean intakes of vegetables, fruit, and dairy continued to be low when compared to the Dietary Guidelines recommendations.