National Diet and Nutrition data results published

The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) is a continuous cross-sectional survey, designed to assess the diet, nutrient intake and nutritional status of the general population aged 18 months upwards living in private households in the UK.

The findings show that the overall picture of the diet and nutrition of the UK population is broadly similar to previous surveys in the NDNS series and no new nutritional problems appear to have emerged.

• Adults (aged 19 to 64 years), consumed on average 4.2 portions of fruit and vegetables per day and older adults (aged 65 years and over) consumed 4.4 portions. 30% of adults and 37% of older adults met the ‘five-a-day’ recommendation
• Boys aged 11-18 years, on average, consumed 3.1 portions of fruit and vegetables per day and 13% met the ‘five a day’ recommendation. Girls in the same age group consumed 2.7 portions per day and 7% met the recommendation.
• Mean saturated fat intakes for all age groups exceeded the recommended level of no more than 11 per cent of food energy. The mean saturated fat intake for adults aged 19 to 64 years was 12.85 of food energy
• Mean intakes of trans fatty acids provided 0.7-0.9% of food energy for all age groups, which was within the recommendation of no more than 2 per cent food energy
• Mean intakes of non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) exceeded the recommendation of no more than 11% of food energy for children aged 4 to 18 years and adults aged 19 to 64 years
• 61% of adults (aged 19-64) and 53% of older adults (aged 65 years and over) consumed alcohol during the four-day diary. Adults who had consumed alcohol obtained 9% of energy intake from alcohol in the 19 to 64 age group and 6% in the 65 years and over group.