Fast-food Intake Among Adults in the United States, August 2021-August 2023.

Introduction: This report presents estimates of the percentage of calories consumed from fast food on a given day among U.S. adults by selected characteristics during August 2021-August 2023, along with trends in percentage of calories consumed from fast food since 2013-2014.

Methods: Data from the August 2021-August 2023 NHANES were used to estimate the percentage of calories consumed from fast food among U.S. adults and test for subgroup differences using orthogonal contrasts to calculate a Student's t statistic. Trends were assessed using data from four NHANES cycles (2013-2014, 2015-2016, 2017-March 2020, and August 2021-August 2023) with linear regression models evaluating linear and quadratic trends while adjusting for differential time between cycles. Statistical analyses, conducted in SAS-callable SUDAAN version 11.0, used orthogonal contrasts and regression models, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Key findings: During August 2021-August 2023, about one-third (32.0%) of adults 20 years and older consumed fast food on a given day. Overall, adults consumed 11.7% of calories from fast food on a given day. The percentage of calories consumed from fast food on a given day decreased with age: 15.2% for ages 20-39, 11.9% for ages 40-59, and 7.6% for ages 60 and older. No significant differences were noted between men and women. The percentage of calories consumed from fast food among adults decreased from 14.1% during 2013-2014 to 11.7% during August 2021-August 2023.