The Food Pattern and Data Analysis subcommittee, led by Heather Eicher-Miller, PhD, provided insightful findings on food patterns among individuals aged one year and above at the recent Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee meeting. While the committee acknowledged that they currently only have a sample of data and can’t see the complete picture yet, they plan to combine other systematic reviews and food pattern modeling to gain a better understanding.
One of the focuses of the analysis was on nutrients and components that are of public health concern. They wanted to identify areas where the population is under or over-consuming, which can present health risks. Additionally, they aimed to consider the overall patterns of dietary intake in the United States and how they correlate with nutrition-related chronic health conditions.
The committee examined the impact of the pandemic on data collection and found that there were no significant differences during the specified time frame. They also included other factors such as food security, country of birth, health insurance coverage, urban and rural living, social vulnerability index, and disability status when analyzing the dietary intakes in the US.
Based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, it was observed that adolescents and adults were consuming more grains. However, there were concerns regarding the excessive intake of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar. Adolescents showed a decrease in dairy, vegetables, and fruit juice consumption, while adults exhibited a decrease in fruit juice consumption. Both groups also showed a slight decrease in grains consumption, with a slight increase in whole grains intake among adults. Additionally, adults showed an increase in nuts, seeds, soy, and legumes consumption.
The committee discovered that a significant proportion of the population is not meeting the recommendations for calcium and vitamin D. On the other hand, dietary fiber and potassium intakes were closer to the recommended levels. Unfortunately, the intake of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars exceeded the recommended limits.
Despite the presentation not including intake data on sugary drinks and protein sources, the committee assured that this information will be included in upcoming analyses. It was emphasized that regardless of demographics, sodium intake was consistently exceeding the limits.
When assessing the overall diet quality using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) over time, the scores remained relatively constant and poor. Toddlers had the highest diet quality, while adolescents had the lowest. Obesity prevalence has increased by 20% in younger age groups.
However, there were positive aspects worth celebrating. Seafood and plant proteins aligned well with the HEI, as did total protein foods. Various racial and ethnic groups demonstrated alignment with food components such as total vegetables, whole fruits, and total fruits.
In summary, although there are areas of concern regarding nutrient intake and diet quality in the United States, particularly with regards to sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars, there are also positive trends emerging. The committee’s ongoing research and analysis will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the current food patterns in the US and inform future recommendations.
