Common Fat Intakes

From 1971 to 2000, an increase in mean euCTgy intake of calories, with a decrease in the mean percentage of calories from total fat and saturated fat, has occurred in the U.S. In the 1999 to 2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the daily mean percraitage of calories from total fat and the percraitage of calories from saturated fat were decreased from 36.9% to 32.8% and 13-13.5% to 11%, respectively, compared with those in 1971 to 1974. While a decrease in the percentage of total fat and saturated fat consumed was seen between 1971 and 2000, when total fat intake was assessed, the absolute level of fat intake actually increased from the time periods 1989-1991 (73.4 g) to 1994—1996 (76.4 g).  

Mean dietary cholesterol levels declined from the 1970s to 1988-1994, leveling off between 1988-1994 and 1999-2000. For adults aged 20 to 74, mean dietary cholesterol intake decreased from 487 to 341 mg in men and 313 to 242 mg in women. Possible reasons for this decrease include improved measurements of the cholesterol content of foods and a decreased consumption of whole eggs.  

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