How Much Fast Food Do We Eat in America?

Eating fast food is often the focus of public health conversations, particularly the role fast food may play in healthy eating habits and health outcomes. Two new reports from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) provide insight about how much fast-food U.S. adults and youth are eating. These reports rely on data from a decade of NHANES, up through the most recent NHANES from August 2021–August 2023.

Adults are eating less fast food

The first report focuses on U.S. adults ages 20 years and older. The report’s analysis shows that 32% of adults had fast food on a given day during August 2021 to August 2023.

On average, adults got almost 12% of their daily calories from fast food, but that percentage decreased with age—

• 15.2% for adults 20–39 years old
• 11.9% for adults 40–59 years old
• 7.6% for adults 60 years and older

The analysis also shows differences by education. Adults with some college education got more calories from fast food compared to those with a high school diploma or less, and more than those with a bachelor’s degree or higher.

In addition, the data show a relationship between weight status and fast-food consumption. Adults with obesity had the highest percentages of calories from fast food.

Over time, the percentage of daily calories from fast food has decreased from about 14% in 2013–2014 to 12% in August 2021–August 2023.

Fast food trends are mixed for youth  

The second report looked at fast food eaten by children (ages 2–11) and adolescents (ages 12–19). During August 2021–August 2023, 30% of youth had fast food on a given day, with an average of 11% of their daily calories coming from fast food.

The percentage of calories from fast food increased with age—

• 8.5% for children ages 2–11
• 14.6% for adolescents ages 12–19

Adolescents (ages 12-19) ate an increasing amount of fast food from 2013–2014 to 2017–March 2020, followed by a decrease in August 2021–August 2023.

NHANES’s Dietary Recall Interviews

NHANES collects data from participants about what they eat and drink through 24-hour dietary recall interviews. Participants report all the food they ate and beverages they drank in the previous day to provide a comprehensive snapshot of their dietary habits. During these interviews, respondents are also asked about the sources of those foods. Food categorized as “restaurant fast food/pizza” are classified as fast food for the purposes of these analyses.

NHANES is the only national survey that includes health and dietary interviews, health exams, and laboratory tests for participants of all ages. NHANES monitors the health and nutrition of adults and children across the United States. NHANES participants are scientifically selected to accurately represent people across the United States, providing a critical source of information about the health and nutrition of U.S. adults and children.