TABLE 4.
Mean energy intake (kcal/d) and proportion of energy intake deriving from junk foods consumed by US adults in NHANES 2015–2018
| All adults (n = 10,001) | Male (n = 4850) | Female (n = 5151) | Mexican American (n = 1554) | Non-Hispanic white (n = 3467) | Non-Hispanic black (n = 2238) | Age 19–29 y (n = 1771) | Age 30–59 y (n = 4735) | Age ≥60 y (n = 3495) | <185% federal poverty level (n = 4062) | 185–350% federal poverty level (n = 2273) | >350% federal poverty level (n = 2598) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breads | 62 (5.9%) | 68 (5.6%) | 56 (6.4%)1 | 70 (7.1%) | 58 (5.4%) | 70 (6.2%) | 49 (4.4%) | 61 (5.6%) | 74 (8.1%) | 60 (5.8%) | 57 (5.3%) | 66 (6.4%) |
| Cheese and cheese products | 8 (0.8%) | 9 (0.7%) | 6 (0.7%) | 5 (0.5%)2 | 9 (0.8%) | 7 (0.6%) | 8 (0.7%) | 9 (0.8%) | 6 (0.7%) | 8 (0.8%) | 9 (0.8%) | 7 (0.7%) |
| Confectionery | 52 (5.0%) | 54 (4.4%) | 50 (5.7%) | 49 (5.0%) | 56 (5.2%) | 48 (4.2%) | 53 (4.7%) | 55 (5.1%) | 45 (4.9%) | 46 (4.4%) | 46 (4.3%) | 60 (5.8%) |
| Dairy with added sugar | 7 (0.7%) | 7 (0.6%) | 7 (0.8%) | 6 (0.6%) | 9 (0.8%) | 1 (0.1%)2 | 8 (0.7%) | 7 (0.6%) | 6 (0.7%) | 9 (0.9%) | 7 (0.7%) | 6 (0.6%) |
| Desserts | 175 (16.8%) | 188 (15.4%) | 164 (18.6%)1 | 186 (18.9%) | 177 (16.4%) | 175 (15.5%) | 124 (11.1%)3 | 169 (15.6%) | 225 (24.7%)4 | 171 (16.5%) | 195 (18.3%) | 167 (16.2%) |
| Processed meat, poultry, and fish | 47 (4.5%) | 60 (4.9%) | 35 (4.0%)1 | 28 (2.9%)2 | 55 (5.1%) | 42 (3.7%) | 47 (4.2%) | 47 (4.3%) | 48 (5.3%) | 44 (4.2%) | 55 (5.2%) | 46 (4.5%) |
| Ready-to-eat cereals | 38 (3.6%) | 43 (3.5%) | 33 (3.8%) | 26 (2.6%)2 | 43 (4.0%) | 32 (2.8%)2 | 34 (3.0%) | 38 (3.5%) | 40 (4.4%) | 41 (3.9%) | 41 (3.8%) | 33 (3.2%) |
| Salty snacks | 86 (8.2%) | 96 (7.9%) | 77 (8.8%)1 | 71 (7.2%)5 | 91 (8.4%) | 93 (8.2%) | 96 (8.6%) | 90 (8.3%) | 70 (7.7%)4 | 79 (7.6%) | 96 (9.0%) | 85 (8.2%) |
| Sandwiches, burgers, and pizzas | 221 (21.2%) | 288 (23.6%) | 158 (18.0%)1 | 239 (24.3%) | 234 (21.6%) | 200 (17.7%) | 297 (26.5%)3 | 228 (21.1%) | 152 (16.7%)4 | 225 (21.7%) | 226 (21.2%) | 215 (20.8%) |
| Sugar-sweetened beverages | 98 (9.4%) | 122 (10.0%) | 76 (8.6%)1 | 94 (9.6%) | 101 (9.3%) | 119 (10.5%) | 113 (10.1%) | 114 (10.5%) | 56 (6.1%)4 | 119 (11.5%) | 108 (10.1%) | 77 (7.5%)6 |
| All other foods | 249 (23.9%) | 283 (23.2%) | 217 (24.7%)1 | 203 (20.7%) | 247 (22.8%) | 343 (30.3%)7 | 292 (26.0%) | 263 (24.3%) | 190 (20.9%)4 | 237 (22.8%) | 227 (21.3%) | 271 (26.2%)6 |
| All food | 1043 | 1218 | 880 | 982 | 1081 | 1132 | 1122 | 1082 | 911 | 1039 | 1066 | 1033 |
1
Different to males (P < 0.01).
2
Different to non-Hispanic white (P < 0.01).
3
Different to age 30–59 y and age ≥60 y (P < 0.01).
4
Different to age 19–29 y and age 30–59 y (P < 0.01).
5
Different to non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black (P < 0.01).
6
Different to <185% federal poverty level and >350% federal poverty level (P < 0.01).
7
Different to Mexican American and non-Hispanic white (P < 0.01).