NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 213 ■ September 2015

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Caloric Intake From Fast Food Among Children and 

Adolescents in the United States, 2011–2012

Sundeep Vikraman, M.D., M.P.H.; Cheryl D. Fryar, M.S.P.H.; and Cynthia L. Ogden, Ph.D.

Key findings 

Data from the National 

Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey

● In 2011–2012, just over 

one-third of children and 

adolescents consumed fast food 

on a given day.

● In 2011–2012, children 

and adolescents consumed 

on average 12.4% of their 

daily calories from fast food 

restaurants.

● Caloric intake from fast 

foods was higher in adolescents 

aged 12–19 years than in 

children aged 2–11 years.

● Non-Hispanic Asian children 

had significantly lower caloric 

intake from fast food compared 

with non-Hispanic white, 

non-Hispanic black, and 

Hispanic children.

● No significant differences 

in caloric intake from fast food 

were noted by sex, poverty 

status, or weight status.

Consumption of fast food has been linked to weight gain in adults (1). Fast 

food has also been associated with higher caloric intake and poorer diet quality 

in children and adolescents (2). From 1994 through 2006, caloric intake 

from fast food increased from 10% to 13% among children aged 2–18 years 

(3). This report presents the most recent data on the percentage of calories 

consumed from fast food among U.S. children by sex, age group, race and 

Hispanic origin, poverty status, and weight status. 

Keywords: pediatric • diet • calories • National Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey

What percentage of children and adolescents consumed fast 

food on a given day? 

In 2011–2012, 34.3% of all children and adolescents aged 2–19 consumed 

fast food on a given day (Figure 1). Almost 12% (11.6%) of children and 

adolescents obtained fewer than 25% of their daily calories from fast food, 

10.7% obtained 25%–40% of their daily calories from fast food, and 12.1% 

obtained more than 40% of their daily calories from fast food.

Figure 1. Percentage of children and adolescents aged 2–19 years who consumed fast food on

a given day, by calories consumed: United States, 2011–2012

1

Individual percentages do not add to 34.3 due to rounding.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2012.

65.7

11.6

10.7

12.1 No fast food consumed

Less than 25% of calories

from fast food

25%–40% of calories

from fast food

More than 40% of calories

from fast food

1

34.3
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Did the percentage of calories consumed from fast food differ by sex or 

age? 

In 2011–2012, children and adolescents aged 2–19 consumed on average 12.4% of their daily 

calories from fast food, and there was no significant difference between boys and girls overall 

or in any age group (Figure 2). The percentage of calories consumed from fast food increased 

with age. In children aged 2–11, the average percentage of calories consumed from fast food was 

8.7%, while in adolescents aged 12–19, the average percentage of calories consumed was 16.9%. 

This difference was seen among both boys and girls. 

Figure 2. Mean percentage of calories from fast food among children and adolescents aged 2–19 years, by sex and 

age: United States, 2011–2012 Percent

Both sexes Males Females

1

Significant difference between children aged 2–11 years and 12–19 years (p < 0.05). 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2012.

Age in years1

12.4

8.7

16.9

12.4

8.5

17.3

12.5

9.0

16.6

0

5

10

15

20

25

Total 2–11 12–19
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 213 ■ September 2015

■  3  ■

Did the percentage of calories consumed from fast food differ by race and 

Hispanic origin?

Non-Hispanic Asian children and adolescents aged 2–19 consumed significantly fewer daily 

calories (8.0%) from fast food compared with non-Hispanic white (13.1%), non-Hispanic black 

(13.9%), and Hispanic (11.2%) children and adolescents (Figure 3). Among children aged 

2–11, non-Hispanic Asian children consumed an average of 5.0% of their daily calories from 

fast food compared with non-Hispanic white (9.1%), non-Hispanic black (9.8%), and Hispanic 

(8.4%) children. Among adolescents aged 12–19, non-Hispanic Asian adolescents consumed a 

lower daily percentage of calories (11.9%) from fast food than non-Hispanic white (17.8%) and 

non-Hispanic black (18.8%) adolescents. However, the observed difference in average daily 

calories consumed from fast food between non-Hispanic Asian and Hispanic adolescents was not 

significant.

Figure 3. Mean percentage of calories from fast food among children and adolescents aged 2–19 years, by race and 

Hispanic origin and age: United States, 2011–2012 Percent

Non-Hispanic white Non-Hispanic black Non-Hispanic Asian Hispanic

1

Significantly different from non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic children (p < 0.05). 2

Significantly different from non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black children (p < 0.05). 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2012.

Age in years

13.1

9.1

17.8

13.9

9.8

18.8

1

8.0

1

5.0

2

11.9

11.2

8.4

14.9

0

5

10

15

20

25

Total 2–11 12–19
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 213 ■ September 2015

■  4  ■

Did the percentage of calories consumed from fast food differ by poverty 

status? 

No significant difference was seen by poverty status in the average daily percentage of calories 

consumed from fast food among children and adolescents aged 2–19 (Figure 4). There were no 

differences by poverty status among either younger children (aged 2–11) or adolescents (aged 

12–19).

Figure 4. Mean percentage of calories from fast food among children and adolescents aged 2–19 years, by poverty 

status and age: United States, 2011–2012 Percent

Less than 130% of poverty level 130%–350% of poverty level More than 350% of poverty level

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2012.

Age in years

11.5

8.0

16.0

13.2

9.1

18.1

13.0

9.7

16.9

0

5

10

15

20

25

Total 2–11 12–19
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 213 ■ September 2015

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Did the percentage of calories consumed from fast food differ by weight 

status? 

Among children and adolescents aged 2–19, the average daily percentage of calories consumed 

from fast food did not vary significantly by weight status (Figure 5). There was no significant 

difference by weight status for children aged 2–11 or for adolescents aged 12–19.

Figure 5. Mean percentage of calories from fast food among children and adolescents aged 2–19 years, by weight

status and age: United States, 2011–2012 Percent

Underweight/Normal Overweight Obese

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2012.

Age in years

12.2

8.8

16.4

11.6

7.7

17.0

14.6

10.1

18.6

0

5

10

15

20

25

Total 2–11 12–19
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 213 ■ September 2015

■  6  ■

Summary

In 2011–2012, children and adolescents aged 2–19 consumed an average 12.4% of their daily 

calories from fast food. Adolescents aged 12–19 consumed twice the average daily percentage 

of calories from fast food than did younger children. The percentage of calories from fast 

food differed by age and race and Hispanic origin. Overall, non-Hispanic Asian children and 

adolescents consumed a lower percentage of calories from fast food compared with the other race 

and Hispanic groups. Previous studies have reported that acculturation to the U.S. lifestyle plays 

an important role in the adoption of unhealthy behaviors, such as fast food consumption, in 

Asian-American and other immigrant groups (4,5). In 2011–2012, a greater percentage of 

non-Hispanic Asian children and adolescents were foreign-born (27.4%), compared with Hispanic 

(19.7%), non-Hispanic white (2.5%), and non-Hispanic black (1.9%) children and adolescents 

(data not shown). This analysis found no significant differences in fast food consumption by 

poverty status or weight status among children and adolescents.

Definitions

Fast-food consumption: Respondents were asked to report where they got each food that they 

reported in the 24-hour dietary recall. Food reported as “restaurant fast food/pizza” was selected 

as fast food for these analyses.

Poverty status: Based on an index representing the ratio of family income to poverty. The 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ poverty guidelines were used as the poverty 

measure to calculate this index (6). The cut point for participation in the Supplemental Nutrition 

Assistance Program is 130% of the poverty level.

Weight status: Body mass index (BMI) is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in 

meters squared (kg/m2

) rounded to one decimal point. Underweight/Normal weight is BMI below 

the 85th percentile on sex-specific CDC BMI-for-age growth charts; overweight is between the 

85th and 95th percentiles; and obese is BMI at or above the 95th percentile.

Data source and methods

Data from the 2011–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were 

used for these analyses (7). NHANES is a cross-sectional survey designed to monitor the health 

and nutritional status of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population. The survey consists of 

interviews conducted in participants’ homes and standardized physical examinations in mobile 

examination centers (MECs). Dietary information was obtained via an in-person 24-hour dietary 

recall interview in the MEC. Dietary recalls cover intake for the 24-hour period prior to the 

interview (midnight to midnight).

The NHANES sample is selected through a complex, multistage design that includes selection of 

primary sampling units (counties), household segments within the counties, and, finally, sample 

persons from selected households. The sample design includes oversampling to obtain reliable 

estimates of health and nutritional measures for population subgroups. African-American persons, 

Hispanic persons, non-Hispanic Asian persons, persons with low income, and persons aged 80 

and over were oversampled during 2011–2012. NHANES public-use data files are released in 

2-year cycles. Day 1 dietary sample weights—which account for the differential probabilities 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 213 ■ September 2015

■  7  ■

of selection, nonresponse, and noncoverage—as well as day of the week of dietary recall and 

nonresponse to the dietary interview, were incorporated into the estimation process.

All differences reported are statistically significant unless otherwise indicated. Statistical analyses 

were conducted using SAS version 9.3 (SAS Institute, Cary, N.C.) and SUDAAN version 11.0 

(RTI International, Research Triangle Park, N.C.).

About the authors

Sundeep Vikraman was a student volunteer with CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, 

Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys and a graduate student at the George 

Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health during the analysis and writing 

of this report. Cheryl D. Fryar and Cynthia L. Ogden are also with the Division of Health and 

Nutrition Examination Surveys.

References

1. Fryar CD, Ervin RB. Caloric intake from fast food among adults: United States, 2007–2010. 

NCHS data brief, no 114. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2013.

2. Powell LM, Nguyen BT. Fast-food and full-service restaurant consumption among children 

and adolescents: Effect on energy, beverage, and nutrient intake. JAMA Pediatr 167(1):14–20. 

2013.

3. Poti JM, Popkin BM. Trends in energy intake among US children by eating location and food 

source, 1977–2006. J Am Diet Assoc 111(8):1156–64. 2011.

4. Unger JB, Reynolds K, Shakib S, Spruijt-Metz D, Sun P, Johnson CA. Acculturation, 

physical activity, and fast-food consumption among Asian-American and Hispanic adolescents. 

J Community Health 29(6):467–81. 2004.

5. Wang S, Quan J, Kanaya AM, Fernandez A. Asian Americans and obesity in California: 

A protective effect of biculturalism. J Immigr Minor Health 13(2):276–83. 2011.

6. HHS. Poverty guidelines, research, and measurement. 2011. Available from: 

http://aspe.hhs.gov/Poverty/index.cfm. 

7. NCHS. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: Questionnaires, datasets, and 

related documentation. Available from: 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/nhanes_questionnaires.htm.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 213 ■ September 2015

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Suggested citation

Vikraman S, Fryar CD, Ogden CL. Caloric 

intake from fast food among children and 

adolescents in the United States, 2011–2012. 

NCHS data brief, no 213. Hyattsville, MD: 

National Center for Health Statistics. 2015.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in 

the public domain and may be reproduced 

or copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health 

Statistics

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., M.B.A., Director

Nathaniel Schenker, Ph.D., Deputy Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Health and Nutrition 

Examination Surveys

Kathryn S. Porter, M.D., M.S., Director

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