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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Food Surveys Research Group » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #376056
Research Project: The Role of Dietary and Lifestyle Factors on Nutrition and Related Health Status Using Large-Scale Survey Data

Location: Food Surveys Research Group

Title: Protein Intake of Adolescents: What We Eat in America, NHANES 2015-2016

Author
item Hoy, M Katherine
item Clemens, John
item Moshfegh, Alanna

Submitted to: Worldwide Web Site: Food Surveys Research Group
Publication Type: Research Technical Update
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/8/2020
Publication Date: 7/14/2020
Citation: Hoy, M.K., Clemens, J.C., Moshfegh, A.J. 2020. Protein Intake of Adolescents: What We Eat in America, NHANES 2015-2016. Worldwide Web Site: Food Surveys Research Group. Available: https://www.ars.usda.gov/nea/bhnrc/fsrg/wweia/dbrief.

Interpretive Summary: Protein is essential for growth and metabolic processes in the body. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends consuming a variety of protein foods. This report describes protein intake of adolescents 12-19 years using dietary intake data from What We Eat in America, NHANES 2015-2016. Overall, the average protein intake of male adolescents was about one-quarter higher than female adolescents. Protein intakes did not change between 2005-2006 and 2015-2016. Protein contributed about 15% to energy intake of adolescents and is within the 10-35% recommended range. About three-quarters of protein intake is consumed at lunch and dinner. Animal sources of protein accounted for about two-thirds of adolescents’ protein intake and the remaining intake from plant sources was primarily from grains.

Technical Abstract: Protein is an essential macronutrient for growth, maintenance and repair of body tissues and metabolism. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends consuming a variety of protein foods to provide 10-35% of energy intake. This report describes protein intake of adolescents 12-19 years using dietary intake data from What We Eat in America, NHANES 2015-2016. Overall, the average protein intake of male adolescents (99 grams) was about one-quarter higher than female adolescents (64 grams). Adolescents’ protein intakes did not change between 2005-2006 and 2015-2016. Protein contributed about 15% to energy intake of adolescents. Animal sources of protein accounted for around 63% of adolescents’ protein intake and the remaining 37% was from plant source, primarily grains.