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Written question asked by Countess of Mar (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Darzi of Denham (Labour) on Monday, 1 June 2009.

Health: Dietary Guidelines

Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the average calorie intake in the United Kingdom in 1980; what it was at the most recent date for which figures are available; what proportion of calories was in absolute carbohydrate intake and what proportion was in absolute fat intake for those years; and what was the percentage increase in overweight and obesity over that period.
Answer

Comparable information on average energy (calorie) intake for adults in Britain and the contribution of fat and carbohydrate to energy intake is available for 1986-87 and 2000-01. This is shown in the following table. These figures are taken from the Dietary and Nutritional Survey of British Adults aged 16 to 64 years, carried out in 1986-87 and the National Diet and Nutrition Survey of adults aged 19 to 64 years, carried out in 2000-01. Data from the Health Survey for England (HSE) 2007 estimates that 24 per cent of men and women are obese and 61 per cent are overweight (including obese). In 1993, 13 per cent of men and 16 per cent of women in England were obese, while 53 per cent of adults were overweight and obese¹.

1986-87* 2000-01**
16-64 years 19-64 years
Men Women Men Women
Energy intake (kcals/day) 2,450 1,680 2,313 1,632
% food energy from total fat 40.4 40.3 35.8 34.9
% food energy from total carbohydrate 44.7 44.2 47.7 48.5
% overweight (BMI >25 &<30) 37 24 41 33
% obese (BMI >30) 8 12 25 20

"¹ The Information Centre (2008) Statistics on obesity, physical activity and diet: England, January 2008: The Information Centre, Lifestyles Statistics.""* Data from Gregory J, Foster K, Tyler H, & Wiseman M. Dietary and Nutritional Survey of British adults. HMSO (London, 1990)""** Data from Henderson L, Gregory 3, Irving K & Swan G. National Diet and Nutrition Survey: adults aged 19 to 64 years. Volume 2: Energy, protein, carbohydrate, fat and alcohol intake. TSO (London: 2003)." "* Data from Gregory J, Foster K, Tyler H, & Wiseman M. Dietary and Nutritional Survey of British adults. HMSO (London, 1990)""** Data from Henderson L, Gregory 3, Irving K & Swan G. National Diet and Nutrition Survey: adults aged 19 to 64 years. Volume 2: Energy, protein, carbohydrate, fat and alcohol intake. TSO (London: 2003)." "** Data from Henderson L, Gregory 3, Irving K & Swan G. National Diet and Nutrition Survey: adults aged 19 to 64 years. Volume 2: Energy, protein, carbohydrate, fat and alcohol intake. TSO (London: 2003)."

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
3761; 711 c30WA
Session
2008-09
Subjects
Consumption Food Fats Obesity Carbohydrates
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk