National Diet and Nutrition Survey: results for years 1 to 9

Food consumption, nutrient intakes and nutritional status compared with recommendations (Year 5 to 9; 2012/13 to 2016/17)

• Consumption of 5 A Day fruit and vegetables was below recommendation in all age/sex groups. 
• The vast majority of children and adults did not meet recommended guidelines on intake of free sugars.
• Average daily consumption of red and processed meat exceeded the current maximum recommendation for adults.
• The vast majority in all age groups were not meeting recommendations for fibre.
• There was evidence of low intake of a number of vitamins and minerals.

Trends over time (Years 1 to 9; 2008/09 to 2016/17)

• Overall, trends over time in Wales were similar to those seen in the UK as a whole.
• There was little change in fruit and vegetable or fibre intake over the nine-year period.
• Intake of red and processed meat showed a downward trend over time. A downward trend was also seen for the proportion of young people consuming sugar-sweetened soft drinks.
• There was a fall in total fat intake as a proportion of food energy for older men in Wales. This fall was greater than that seen in the UK as a whole.
• There was a downward trend in most vitamins and minerals for many age/sex groups.
• There was a downward trend for sodium intake.
• For folate status, there was a decrease in all age groups. The decline in folate status seen among women of childbearing age in the UK was less clear in Wales.

Equivalised household income (Years 5 to 9; 2012/13 to 2016/17)

• As for the UK as a whole, higher income was associated with better nutritional status across a range of biomarkers.
• There was evidence of greater intake of fruit and vegetables and oily fish with increasing income.
• Free sugars intake as a proportion of total energy decreased significantly with increasing income for adults aged 19 to 64.
• There was no consistent income pattern across age/sex groups in total fat and saturated fatty acid intake as a proportion of energy.