National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2017 to 2023 Report for Northern Ireland

This report presents results from 2017-2023 of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) for Northern Ireland. NDNS is a continuous cross-sectional survey, designed to assess the diet, nutrient intake and nutritional status of the general population aged 18 months and over living in private households in the UK. A representative sample of around 1000 people (500 adults and 500 children) take part in NDNS each year. The Northern Ireland NDNS steering group comprised of the Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland, Department of Health and Safefood, fund additional recruitment to boost the achieved Northern Ireland sample to 100 adults (aged 19 years and older) and 100 children (aged 18 months to 18 years) each fieldwork year to provide a representative sample of the Northern Ireland population. NDNS in 2017-2023 (fieldwork years 10 to 15) comprised an interview to collect background information, a 4-day estimated diet diary (fieldwork years 10 and 11), 4 online 24-hour dietary recalls (fieldwork years 12 to 15), physical activity questionnaire, physical measurements and a blood and urine sample. Results are used by government to monitor progress toward diet and nutrition objectives of UK Health Departments and to develop policy interventions.

Key findings from the more recent 2019 to 2023 data:

• Consumption of fruit and vegetable portions was below the recommendation in all age and sex groups, with only 4% of children aged 11 to 18 years meeting the 5 a day recommendation. • Children aged 11 to 18 years were the highest mean consumers of sugary, fizzy drinks and squashes at 167mls/day. Similarly, mean consumption of confectionary was also highest in those aged 11 to 18 years, at 14g/day for boys, and 20g/day for girls. • The highest mean consumption of chips and other fried foods was also among those aged 11 to 18 years (37g/day for boys and 50g/day for girls). Consumption was lowest for adults aged 65 years and over (16g/day for men and 8g/day for women). • Boys aged 11 to 18 years were the highest mean consumers of meat products (67g/day), with women aged 65 years and over being the lowest mean consumers (17g/day). With the exception of children aged 4 to 10 years, mean daily consumption was higher for males than females. • Mean daily intakes of total energy in children aged 18 months to 3 years exceeded the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) and were close to the EAR for children aged 4 to 10 years. Underreporting may partly explain findings relating to energy intake being below recommendations. • In all age groups, the recommendations for intake of mean saturated fatty acids and free sugars were exceeded. Similarly, the mean intake of fibre was below government recommendations for all age groups. • When considering equivalised income, the number of 5 a Day portions of fruits and vegetables increased with increasing income. • There was an increase in fibre intake seen in men aged 65 years and over with increasing income. • 88% of children aged 11 to 18 years reported buying food or drink from the out of home sector (for example cafes, pubs, takeaways) in the last 7 days followed by 84% of adults aged 19 to 64 years and 80% of children aged 4 to 10 years.