NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 114 ■ February 2013

Caloric Intake From Fast Food Among Adults: 

United States, 2007–2010

Cheryl D. Fryar, M.S.P.H., and R. Bethene Ervin, Ph.D., R.D.

Key findings

Data from the National 

Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey

• During 2007–2010, adults 

consumed, on average, 11.3% 

of their total daily calories from 

fast food.

• The consumption of calories 

from fast food significantly 

decreased with age. 

• Non-Hispanic black adults 

consumed a higher percentage 

of calories from fast food 

compared with non-Hispanic 

white and Hispanic adults.

• No difference was 

observed by income status 

in the percentage of calories 

consumed from fast food 

among all adults. Among young 

adults, however, as income 

increased, the percentage 

of calories from fast food 

decreased. 

• The percentage of total 

daily calories from fast food 

increased as weight status 

increased.

As lifestyles become more hectic, fast-food consumption has become a 

growing part of the American diet (1,2). Fast food is food usually sold at 

eating establishments for quick availability or takeout (3). More than one-third 

of U.S. adults are obese (4), and frequent fast-food consumption has been 

shown to contribute to weight gain (1–6). This report presents the percentage 

of calories consumed from fast food by adults in the United States, including 

differences by sociodemographic characteristics and weight status. 

Keywords: diet • calorie • National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

What percentage of calories consumed by adults comes 

from fast food? 

During 2007–2010, adults consumed an average 11.3% of their total daily 

calories from fast food (Figure 1), a decrease from 12.8% for 2003–2006 (data 

not shown). The percentage of calories consumed from fast food did not differ 

Figure 1. Percentage of calories from fast food among adults aged 20 and over, by sex and age: 

United States, 2007–2010

1

Significant linear trend by age (p < 0.05).

NOTE: Total estimates are age adjusted to the 2000 projected U.S. standard population using three age groups: 20–39, 40–59, 

and 60 and over. 

SOURCE: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007–2010. Percent

11.3 10.9

15.315.5

11.2

9.7

6.0 6.6

5.5

15.1

11.8

10.5

Men Women

Total 20–39 40–59 60 and over

Age (years)1

Both

0

5

10

15

20

25

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 114 ■ February 2013

■  2  ■

significantly between men (11.8%) and women (10.9%). The percentage of calories consumed 

from fast food decreased with age, with adults aged 60 and over (6.0%) consuming the lowest 

percentage of their daily calories from fast foods. This decrease with age was found among both 

men and women.

Does the percentage of calories consumed from fast food differ by race 

and ethnicity?

No significant differences were found between non-Hispanic white and Hispanic adults in the 

percentage of calories consumed from fast food. The lack of difference, in the percentage of 

calories consumed from fast food, between non-Hispanic white and Hispanic adults was observed 

among all age groups. However, among adults aged 20 and over, consumption of calories from 

fast food was higher among non-Hispanic black adults than non-Hispanic white and Hispanic 

adults (Figure 2). This disparity was found for young adults aged 20–39, where non-Hispanic 

black adults consumed more than one-fifth of their percentage of calories from fast food. Among 

middle-aged adults in the 40–59 age group, the pattern was similar, but the difference between 

non-Hispanic black and Hispanic persons did not reach statistical significance. No race or ethnic 

differences were found among adults aged 60 and over. 

Figure 2. Percentage of calories from fast food among adults aged 20 and over, by age and race and ethnicity: 

United States, 2007–2010

1

Statistically different from non-Hispanic white and Hispanic adults (p < 0.05). 2

Statistically different from non-Hispanic white adults (p < 0.05).

NOTE: Total estimates are age adjusted to the 2000 projected U.S. standard population using three age groups: 20–39, 40–59, and 60 and over. 

SOURCE: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007–2010. Percent

11.0 11.1

14.6

1

21.1

2

13.2

10.5

6.1 6.6 6.3

14.5 1

14.8

10.2

Non-Hispanic black Hispanic

Total 20–39 40–59 60 and over

Age (years)

Non-Hispanic white

0

5

10

15

20

25
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 114 ■ February 2013

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Does the percentage of calories consumed from fast food differ by income?

Overall, no difference was observed by income status in the percentage of calories consumed 

from fast food (Figure 3). However, in the youngest age group, 20–39, the percentage of calories 

consumed from fast food significantly decreased with increasing income level. 

Figure 3. Percentage of calories from fast food among adults aged 20 and over, by age and income: United States, 

2007–2010

1

Significant decreasing linear trend (p < 0.05).

NOTE: Total estimates are age adjusted to the 2000 projected U.S. standard population using three age groups: 20–39, 40–59, and 60 and over.

SOURCE: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007–2010. Percent

11.5

10.5

1

16.6 15.8

12.1

10.0

5.0

6.7

5.8

13.8

12.3

10.2

More than 350% of 

poverty level

Total 20–39 40–59 60 and over

Age (years)

130–350% of

poverty level

Less than 130% of

poverty level

0

5

10

15

20

25
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 114 ■ February 2013

■  4  ■

Does the percentage of calories consumed from fast food differ by 

weight status?

Among adults, the percentage of calories consumed from fast food varied by weight status 

(Figure 4). The percentage of total daily calories from fast food increased as weight status 

increased. For each age group, obese adults consumed the highest percentage of their calories 

from fast food. 

Figure 4. Percentage of calories from fast food among adults aged 20 and over, by age and weight status: United States, 

2007–2010

1

Significant increasing linear trend (p < 0.05).

NOTES: Underweight/Normal weight is body mass index (BMI) less than 25.0; overweight is BMI of 25.0–29.9; and obese is BMI greater than or equal to 30.0. 

Total estimates are age adjusted to the 2000 projected U.S. standard population using three age groups: 20–39, 40–59, and 60 and over. 

SOURCE: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007–2010. Percent

9.6

1

13.1 13.5

14.7

10.7 1

11.2

3.8

5.8

1

7.7

1

18.0

11.2

9.0

Overweight Obese

Total 20–39 40–59 60 and over

Age (years)

Underweight/Normal

0

5

10

15

20

25
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 114 ■ February 2013

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Summary

An earlier report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that the percentage of adults 

eating fast food increased from the early 1990s to the mid-1990s (1). Moreover, previous studies 

have reported that more frequent fast-food consumption is associated with higher energy and fat 

intake and lower intake of healthful nutrients (1,2). This report indicates that for 2007–2010, on 

average, adults consumed just over one-tenth of their percentage of calories from fast food, which 

represents a decrease from 2003–2006 when approximately 13% of calories were consumed from 

fast food. 

During 2007–2010, the highest percentage of calories from fast food was consumed among adults 

who were aged 20–39 or non-Hispanic black or obese. Among young non-Hispanic black adults, 

more than one-fifth of their calories were consumed from fast food. 

Definitions

Calories, kilocalories: A calorie is a measure of the energy produced as foods or beverages are 

burned for energy in the body. The term calorie is usually used when discussing energy from 

foods and diets, but the calorie being referred to is actually a kilocalorie (7). In this report, the 

term calorie refers to kilocalorie. 

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

reported in the 24-hour dietary recall. The source of food coded as “restaurant fast food/pizza” 

from the 24-hour dietary recall interview was selected as fast foods for these analyses.

Poverty income ratio: 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 (8). 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

). Underweight/Normal weight is BMI less than 25.0; overweight is BMI 

of 25.0–29.9; and obese is BMI equal to or greater than 30.0.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 114 ■ February 2013

■  6  ■

Data source and methods

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used for these 

analyses. NHANES is a cross-sectional survey designed to monitor the health and nutritional 

status of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population (9). The survey consists of interviews 

conducted in participants’ homes, standardized physical examinations in mobile examination 

centers (MECs), and laboratory tests utilizing blood and urine specimens provided by participants 

during the physical examination. Dietary information for this analysis was obtained via an inperson 24-hour dietary recall interview in the MEC. Dietary recalls cover intake for any given 

day, specifically the 24-hour period prior to the dietary recall 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, persons with low income, and persons aged 60 and over were 

oversampled during 2007–2010 (10). NHANES public-use data files are released in 2-year cycles. 

Day 1 dietary sample weights—which account for the differential probabilities 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 (11).

Estimates for the total population were age adjusted to the 2000 projected U.S. standard population 

using three age groups: 20–39, 40–59, and 60 and over. Differences between groups were evaluated 

using a t statistic at the p < 0.05 significance level with the appropriate degrees of freedom. To 

test for linear trends among ordinal groups, the null hypothesis of nonlinear trend was tested using 

orthogonal polynomials. All differences reported are statistically significant unless otherwise 

indicated. Statistical analyses were conducted using SAS version 9.2 (SAS Institute, Cary, N.C.) and 

SUDAAN version 10.0 (RTI International, Research Triangle Park, N.C.).

About the authors

Cheryl D. Fryar and R. Bethene Ervin are with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 

National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 114 ■ February 2013

■  7  ■

References

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nutrient intakes and overweight status. J Am Col Nutr 23(2):163–8. 2004.

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among U.S. adults and children: Dietary and nutrient intake profile. J Am Diet Assoc 

103(10):1332–8. 2003.

3. U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary 

guidelines for Americans, 2010. 7th ed. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. 2010.

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distribution of body mass index among U.S. adults, 1999–2010. JAMA 307(5):491–7. 2012. 

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and obesity among Michigan adults. Prev Chronic Dis 8(4):A71. 2011. Available from: 

http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2011/jul/10_0186.htm [Accessed March 7, 2012].

6. Boone-Heinonen J, Gordon-Larsen P, Kiefe CI, Shikany JM, Lewis CE, Popkin BM. Fast food 

restaurants and food stores: Longitudinal associations with diet in young to middle-aged adults: 

The CARDIA study. Arch Intern Med 171(13):1162–70. 2011.

7. Energy. In: Food, nutrition, and diet therapy. 7th ed. Krause MV, Mahan LK, editors. 

Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company. p 9–23. 1984. 

8. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Planning and 

Evaluation. Poverty guidelines, research, and measurement. Washington, DC. 2011. Available 

from: http://aspe.hhs.gov/POVERTY. 

9. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: 

Questionnaires, datasets, and related documentation. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/

nhanes/nhanes_questionnaires.htm. 

10.National Center for Health Statistics. Analytic note regarding 2007–2010 survey design 

changes and combining data across other survey cycles. Hyattsville, MD. 2006. Available from: 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/analyticnote_2007-2010.pdf [Accessed July 23, 2012]. 

11. National Center for Health Statistics. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 

(NHANES) analytic and reporting guidelines. 2005. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/

nhanes/nhanes2003-2004/analytical_guidelines.htm [Accessed July 23, 2012].
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Suggested citation

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.

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

Edward J. Sondik, Ph.D., Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Health and Nutrition 

Examination Surveys

Rosemarie Hirsch, M.D., M.P.H., Acting 

Director

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