Last updated on 8-7-2025 by Thérésa Lebacq
Why do we study the intake of monounsaturated fat?
- All fats are a combination of saturated and unsaturated fats. Unsaturated fats can be further divided into monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Fats that are generally rich in unsaturated fats remain soft or liquid at room temperature (e.g., vegetable oils, with the exception of palm and coconut oil). Unsaturated fats support heart health by improving cholesterol levels (i.e., reducing LDL (“bad”) cholesterol while maintaining HDL (“good”) cholesterol), while playing a role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and improving insulin sensitivity. Monounsaturated fats can, unlike polyunsaturated fats, be synthesised by the human body and are therefore not considered essential.
- Monounsaturated fats are found in both plant and animal foods. The richest plant sources are olive oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, avocados and most nuts and seeds. Olive oil, in particular, is rich in the monounsaturated fatty acid oleic acid, which helps to lower blood cholesterol levels. Animal sources are red meat and whole milk products.
- As unsaturated fats are recommended as a healthy source of fat within a balanced diet, it is recommended (Nordic Nutrition Recommendations) to choose monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats to replace saturated fats.
How do we study it?
- Habitual intake of monounsaturated fat was analysed using the SPADE® program. The detailed methodology can be found here.
- Habitual monounsaturated fat intake is expressed as a percentage of energy intake (En%). By expressing the monounsaturated fat intake as a percentage of energy intake, comparisons between groups of people with different energy requirements (e.g., between men and women, children and adults) can be done.
- In order to gain insight into the proportion of the population that has a sufficient, excessive or inadequate intake of monounsaturated fat, the distribution of monounsaturated fat intake was evaluated in relation to the reference intake range of 10 – 20 En% as set by the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations.
KEY RESULTS
The overall contribution of monounsaturated fat to energy intake is 15 En%
91% have a monounsaturated fat intake within the reference intake range, 5% are below the lower reference level and 4% are above the upper reference level
Children (3-9 years) and adults aged 65 years and above are less likely to have an intake of monounsaturated fat within the reference intake range than adolescents (10-17 years) and adults (18-64 years)
Both monounsaturated fat intake and the proportion of the population having an intake within the reference intake range increased between 2014-2015 and 2022-2023
Meat, meat products and substitutes (21%) and fats and oils (18%) are the main contributors of monounsaturated fat intake
By age and sex
Mean monounsaturated fat intake (En%) in the population aged 3 years and older, by age and sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- En% = Energy percentage. This represents the proportion of daily energy derived from monounsaturated fat in the diet. It was calculated by multiplying total daily monounsaturated fat intake (g) by 9 kcal per gram and dividing by total daily energy intake (kcal).
- Overall, the contribution of monounsaturated fats to energy intake is 15 En%.
- There is no difference in monounsaturated fat intake between men and women.
- Based on the combined average for men and women, the intake of monounsaturated fat is lower in children aged 3-9 years and adults aged 65 years and above (14 En%) than in adolescents aged 10-17 years and adults aged 18-64 years (15 En%).
Proportion of the population aged 3 years and older with monounsaturated fat intake (En%) (A) below and (B) above the dietary reference levels, by age and sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
A. Proportion below the lower reference level
- Only a small proportion of the population (5%) has an intake of monounsaturated fat below the lower reference level.
- Overall, there is no difference between men and women in the proportion below the lower reference level (both 5%). Based on available data, we cannot state if the sex differences observed in some age groups are significant or not.
- Children (3 – 9 years) (8%) and adults aged 65 years and above (9%) are more likely to consume less than the lower reference level compared to adolescents aged 10-17 years (4%) and adults aged 18-64 years (3%).
B. Proportion above the upper reference level
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Results are based on dietary reference values defined as average requirements. The proportion below the lower reference level (<10 En%) and above the upper reference level (>20 En%) was calculated.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- A small proportion of the population (4%) have a monounsaturated fat intake above the upper reference level.
- Overall, there is no difference between men and women in the proportion exceeding the upper reference level (respectively 3% and 5%). . Based on available data, we cannot state if the sex differences observed in some age groups are significant or not.
- Children (3-9 years) and adults aged 65 years and above are less likely to exceed the upper reference level for monounsaturated fat (2%), compared to adolescents (10-17 years; 4%) and adults (18-64 years; 5%).
- In conclusion, the majority of the population (91%) have an intake of monounsaturated fat within the reference intake range. There is no difference between women and men in the proportion within the reference intake range, but children (3-9 years) (90%) and adults aged 65 years and above (89%) are less likely to meet the reference intake range of monounsaturated fat than adolescents (10-17 years; 92%) and adults (18-64 years; 92%).
By educational level
Mean monounsaturated fat intake (En%) in the population aged 3 years and older, by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- The educational level is calculated at the household level by considering the highest diploma obtained by: (i) the respondents or their partner for adults (aged 18 years and above), or (ii) the father and mother (or carer, if applicable) for children and adolescents (aged 3 to 17 years). However, for simplicity, we refer to the educational level of individuals rather than the educational level of their households.
- En% = Energy percentage. This represents the proportion of daily energy derived from monounsaturated fat in the diet. It was calculated by multiplying total daily monounsaturated fat intake (g) by 9 kcal per gram and dividing by total daily energy intake (kcal).
- There is no difference in the contribution of monounsaturated fat to energy intake according to educational level.
Proportion of the population aged 3 years and older with monounsaturated fat intake (En%) (A) below and (B) above the dietary reference levels, by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023
A. Proportion below the lower reference level
- There are no differences in the proportions below or above the lower or upper reference level according to educational level.
- Overall, there are no differences in the proportion of the population having a monounsaturated fat intake within the reference intake range according to educational level.
B. Proportion above the lower reference level
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Results are based on dietary reference values defined as average requirements. The proportion below the lower reference level (<10 En%) and above the upper reference level (>20 En%) was calculated.
- The educational level is calculated at the household level by considering the highest diploma obtained by: (i) the respondents or their partner for adults (aged 18 years and above), or (ii) the father and mother (or carer, if applicable) for children and adolescents (aged 3 to 17 years). However, for simplicity, we refer to the educational level of individuals rather than the educational level of their households.
By region
Mean monounsaturated fat intake (En%) in the population aged 3 years and older, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- En% = Energy percentage. This represents the proportion of daily energy derived from monounsaturated fat in the diet. It was calculated by multiplying total daily monounsaturated fat intake (g) by 9 kcal per gram and dividing by total daily energy intake (kcal).
- Brussels is excluded from the regional comparison due to an insufficient number of participants, but is included in the national data for Belgium.
- There is no difference in the contribution of monounsaturated fat to energy intake between Flanders and Wallonia.
Proportion of the population aged 3 years and older with monounsaturated fat intake (En%) (A) below and (B) above the dietary reference levels, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
A. Proportion below the lower reference level
- There are no regional differences in the proportions consuming less or more than the lower or upper reference level of monounsaturated fat.
- Overall, there is no difference between Flanders and Wallonia in the proportion of the population having a monounsaturated fat intake within the reference intake range.
B. Proportion above the upper reference level
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Results are based on dietary reference values defined as average requirements. The proportion below the lower reference level (<10 En%) and above the upper reference level (>20 En%) was calculated.
- Brussels is excluded from the regional comparison due to an insufficient number of participants, but is included in the national data for Belgium.
By year
Mean monounsaturated fat intake (En%) in the population aged 3 to 64 years, by year, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Adults aged 65 years and older are not included as they were not part of the target population of the 2014-2015 survey.
- En% = Energy percentage. This represents the proportion of daily energy derived from monounsaturated fat in the diet. It was calculated by multiplying total daily monounsaturated fat intake (g) by 9 kcal per gram and dividing by total daily energy intake (kcal).
- The contribution of monounsaturated fat to energy intake increased from 12 En% in 2014-2015 to 15 En% in 2022-2023 in the population aged 3–64 years.
Proportion of the population aged 3 to 64 years and older with monounsaturated fat intake (En%) (A) below and (B) above the dietary reference levels, by year, Belgium: 2022-2023
A. Proportion below the lower reference level
- The proportion of the population aged 3 – 64 year with a monounsaturated fat intake below the lower reference level decreased from 17% to 4%, while those above the upper reference level increased from 0.4% to 4.7%.
- In conclusion, the proportion of the population aged 3 – 64 year with a monounsaturated fat intake within the reference intake range increased from 83% in 2014-2015 to 92% in 2022-2023.
B. Proportion above the upper reference level
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Adults aged 65 years and older are not included as they were not part of the target population of the 2014-2015 survey.
- Results are based on dietary reference values defined as average requirements. The proportion below the lower reference level (<10 En%) and above the upper reference level (>20 En%) was calculated.
Contribution of foods to the intake of monounsaturated fat
Contribution of foods to the intake of monounsaturated fat, in the total population aged 3 years and older, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Meat, meat products and substitutes (including hummus, falafel, vegetarian spreads or pates) (21%) and fats and oils (18%) are the main contributors to monounsaturated fat intake. They are followed by dairy products and substitutes (13%), condiments, spices, sauces and yeast (including oil-based sauces, dressings and mayonnaise-based spreads) (12%) and cakes and sweet biscuits (10%).
- It is important to note that while “meat, meat products and substitutes” and “dairy products and substitutes” are not the main dietary source of monounsaturated fats, the substantial daily intake of foods from these groups by the population in Belgium explains their high contribution to monounsaturated fat intake.
Please cite this page as: Sciensano. Macronutrients: Monounsaturated Fat, Food Consumption Survey 2022-2023, June 2025, Brussels, Belgium, https://www.sciensano.be/en/results-national-food-consumption-survey-2022-2023/fats/monounsaturated-fat