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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 #379268
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: Beverage Choices among Adults: What We Eat in America, NHANES 2017-2018

Author
item Martin, Carrie
item Clemens, John
item Moshfegh, Alanna

Submitted to: Worldwide Web Site: Food Surveys Research Group
Publication Type: Research Technical Update
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/8/2020
Publication Date: 10/28/2020
Citation: Martin, C.L., Clemens, J.C., Moshfegh, A.J. 2020. Beverage Choices among Adults: What We Eat in America, NHANES 2017-2018. Worldwide Web Site: Food Surveys Research Group. Available: https://www.ars.usda.gov/nea/bhnrc/fsrg/wweia/dbrief.

Interpretive Summary: Beverages contribute significant amounts of energy and nutrients in the diets of adults. Using nationally representative survey data from 2017-2018, this research presents results on beverage consumption among U.S. adults, age 20 years and over, and describes the energy and nutrients that beverages contribute to overall intake. On any given day, males consumed about 11 cups of beverages and women about 10 cups. After water, the most commonly consumed beverage was coffee/tea and sweetened beverages, mostly in the form of soft drinks. Beverages provided 17% of daily energy and more than half of added sugars intake, as well as about 1/3 of vitamin C intake and 1/4 of vitamin D, calcium, potassium, and magnesium intakes. This research emphasizes the impact that beverage intake has on the overall diets of U.S. adults. The data brief is available on the FSRG website www.ars.usda.gov/nea/bhnrc/fsrg.

Technical Abstract: Beverages contribute significant amounts of energy and nutrients in the diets of adults. This research presents results on beverage consumption among U.S. adults. The study sample (n= 4,742) included nationally representative data from individuals 20 years and over participating in What We Eat in America, NHANES 2017-2018. Dietary intake data were obtained from an in-person 24-hour recall, collected using the interviewer-administered 5-step USDA Automated Multiple-Pass Method. The most commonly consumed beverage was water, followed by coffee/tea and sweetened beverages. Approximately 2/3 of the sweetened beverages reported were soft drinks. On any given day, males consumed about 11 cups of beverages and women about 10 cups, of which at least half was water, regardless of gender. Following water, alcoholic beverages were consumed in the largest amount. Among those consuming beer, males drank the equivalent of one 12-fl. oz. beer more than women (38 vs. 26 fl. oz.). Beverages provided 17% of total daily energy intake, with more than half of this coming from alcoholic and sweetened beverages. More than half of the mean daily intake of added sugars was consumed as a beverage. Beverages also provided about 1/3 of vitamin C intake and about 1/4 of vitamin D, calcium, potassium, and magnesium intakes. This research emphasizes the impact that beverage intake has on the overall diets of U.S. adults. The data brief is available on the FSRG website www.ars.usda.gov/nea/bhnrc/fsrg.