Foods contributing to energy intake in the US: data from NHANES III and NHANES 1999–2000

doi:10.1016/j.jfca.2004.02.007

Journal of Food Composition and Analysis

Volume 17, Issues 3–4, June–August 2004, Pages 439-447

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2004.02.007 Get rights and content

Abstract

Efforts to reduce the trend of increasing obesity in the United States should be more effective when informed by knowledge of the dietary patterns that are associated with this result. The purpose of this analysis is to describe the foods and food groups that contribute the most to population intake of energy. Two representative surveys were examined, the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), conducted in 1988–1994, and the NHANES from 1999–2000. All foods reported in these surveys were recoded into 144 food items. Foods were also further recoded into 23 food groups. Food items and groups were then ranked according to the proportion of total energy intake contributed by that food item or group. The #1 contributor of energy intake in both time periods was soft drinks, which contributed 7.1% of energy intake in 1999–2000. Among food groups, “Sweets, desserts” contributed the most to energy intake. Three nutrient-poor food groups, “Sweets, desserts”, “Soft drinks” and “Alcoholic beverages” contributed almost 25% of all the energy consumed in the US population. Efforts to reduce obesity should focus on both individual and policy actions to reduce the importance of nutrient-poor foods in the US diet.

Introduction

The dramatic increase in overweight and obesity in the United States has focused attention on the dietary habits of Americans. Efforts to reduce this trend in population obesity should be more successful if informed by knowledge of the dietary patterns that have been associated with this result. The purpose of this study is to describe the relative importance of foods and food groups contributing to population intake of energy. These data are derived from the most recent population data, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999–2000. In addition, comparable data from NHANES III (1988–1994) are examined to illustrate trends in the relative importance of foods and food groups in contributing to energy intakes.

Section snippets

NHANES sample

The NHANES surveys are conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to assess the health, dietary practices, and nutritional status of the United States population. NHANES III was conducted between 1988 and 1994. Since 1999, NHANES are conducted on a continuous basis with data releases every 2 years, the most recent being NHANES 1999–2000. Each 2-year sample constitutes a nationally representative sample of non-institutionalized

Results

Table 1 shows the top 10 energy contributors in the US diet, in NHANES 1999–2000 and in NHANES III. These top 10 food items, of the original 144 items, contribute approximately one-third of all energy intake in the US, in both time periods. With few exceptions, the top 10 contributors are the same in both time periods. “Regular (sweetened) soft drinks” is the top energy contributor in both time periods, contributing 7.1% of total energy in NHANES 1999–2000 and 6.0% in NHANES III. These figures

Discussion

These results are alarming both with regard to overweight and obesity and with regard to inadequate nutrient intake. As shown in Table 2, at least one-fourth of all energy intake comes from food groups that provide large quantities of sugar and fat, and few micronutrients. This highlights the possibility that the epidemic of overweight and obesity is accompanied by an epidemic of undernutrition (Interagency Working Group on Food Security, Food Security Advisory Committee, 1999; Center on Hunger

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Orginal ArticleFoods contributing to energy intake in the US: data from NHANES III and NHANES 1999–2000

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

NHANES sample

Results

Discussion

Nutrient sources in the American diet, I, vitamins and minerals

American Journal of Epidemiology

Orginal Article
Foods contributing to energy intake in the US: data from NHANES III and NHANES 1999–2000