Diet, physical activity and obesity statistics 2006

Temporal trends

Data from the National Food Survey (up to 2000) and the more recent Expenditure and Food

Survey (2001/02 onwards)

8 allow us to look at general trends in the British diet over time.

The percentage of total energy derived from total fat in the British diet is decreasing, but only

gradually, from around 40% in 1975 to just less than 37% in 2004/05. The type of fat eaten has

changed more significantly. The proportion of total energy derived from saturated fat fell from

around 19% in 1975 to just less than 15% in 2004/05. Consumption of both non-milk extrinsic

sugars

9 and fibre has not changed markedly in the last ten years (Table 1.3 and Figure 1.3a).

The Expenditure and Food Survey included food purchased outside of the home for the first time

in 2001/02, so only short term trends are available for such foods. The data showed that there

had been a slight decrease in the consumption of total fat and salt in foods purchased outside

the home over the past four years (Table 1.4).

The trends in fat consumption are associated with changes in food purchasing patterns. Since the

1970s there have been falls in the consumption of many different types of foods with a relatively

high total fat and saturated fat content, including whole milk and butter. There have also been

increases in the consumption of foods which are relatively low in total fat and/or saturated fat

such as reduced fat milks and spreads (Table 1.5 and Figures 1.5a, 1.5b, 1.5d and 1.5e).

Data from the Expenditure and Food Survey showed that between 1975 and 2004/05 the combined

consumption of fruit and vegetables rose only slightly (Fig 1.3c)

10. Data from the National Food

Survey and the Expenditure and Food Survey suggested that the total consumption of fresh fruit

had increased around fourfold since the early 1940s, but total consumption of fresh vegetables

had declined (Table 1.5 and Figure 1.5c).

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This adds more detail to the above, the statistics on saturated fat are of particular interest.

Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet: England, January 2008

Table 6.1 Page 127 Household food and drink purchases, 1974, 1995, 2002/03, 2004/2005 and 2005/06

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Graham

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