Sugar in the Context of the Total Diet

Putting Added Sugars and Sugar Intake into Perspective of the Total Diet

We all know that obesity is a serious problem in the United States. With that in mind it should come as no surprise that as a society we eat more calories and move a lot less than we did 50 years ago^{1, 2, 3}

In 1970, people were consuming 2,054 calories each day. Fast-forward to 2010 (the most recent calorie data), and that figure jumped to 2,501—more than a 20% increase in calories. But added sugars didn’t make up a very big percentage of the increased intake. Over that same period, added sugars consumption increased by 34.5 kcals/day, a 10% increase. Calories from added fats and oils have increased by 229 kcals/day, a 66% increase, and calories from grains have increased by 171 kcals/day, a 42% increase.¹ These numbers are based on food availability data, which can be used as a proxy for consumption.

Daily per capita total calories and calories from added sugars, added fats and oils, and grains¹

Going wayyyy back – total diet perspective

The calories contributed by major food groups have shifted over the years. Here’s a look at the makeup of the total calories in our diet and the way they’ve changed since 1909.⁵