| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6089078 | Nutrition | 2015 | 6 Pages |
â¢Americans have been adhering to federal dietary guidelines for the past 40 y.â¢Fat consumption by US adults decreased from 45% to 34% between 1965 and 2011.â¢Carbohydrate consumption increased from 39% to 51% over this same period.â¢There is a high correlation between the change in diet and the rise of obesity.â¢The percentage of overweight adults has increased from 42% to 66% since 1971.
BackgroundFor almost 50 y, the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) has measured the caloric consumption, and body heights and weights of Americans. The aim of this study was to determine, based on that data, how macronutrient consumption patterns and the weight and body mass index in the US adult population have evolved since the 1960s.MethodsWe conducted the first comprehensive analysis of the NHANES data, documenting how macronutrient consumption patterns and the weight and body mass index in the US adult population have evolved since the 1960s.ResultsAmericans in general have been following the nutrition advice that the American Heart Association and the US Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services have been issuing for more than 40 y: Consumption of fats has dropped from 45% to 34% with a corresponding increase in carbohydrate consumption from 39% to 51% of total caloric intake. In addition, from 1971 to 2011, average weight and body mass index have increased dramatically, with the percentage of overweight or obese Americans increasing from 42% in 1971 to 66% in 2011.ConclusionsSince 1971, the shift in macronutrient share from fat to carbohydrate is primarily due to an increase in absolute consumption of carbohydrate as opposed to a change in total fat consumption. General adherence to recommendations to reduce fat consumption has coincided with a substantial increase in obesity.
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