Last updated on 8-7-2025 by Thérésa Lebacq
Why do we study the total fat intake?
- Fat is an essential macronutrient that provides energy and essential fatty acids, supports cell growth, and aids in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K). There are different types of fat, including unsaturated fats (mono- and poly-unsaturated), which are generally beneficial for heart health, and saturated fats, which should be consumed in moderation. Trans-fatty acids, often found in processed foods, are harmful and should be avoided. While unsaturated fats are necessary for health, excessive fat intake, especially of saturated and trans-fatty acids, can increase the risk of obesity and cardiovascular diseases.
- Fat is found in both plant- and animal-based products, including oils, butter, dairy products, nuts, seeds, meat and fish.
- The total amount of fat consumed each day is an important source of calories and is therefore necessary for maintaining an optimal energy balance. Because too much or too little fat intake can cause an energy imbalance resulting in weight gain or weight loss, dietary reference values are set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
How do we study it?
- Habitual intake of fat was analysed using the SPADE® program. The detailed methodology can be found here.
- Habitual fat intake is expressed in grams per day, as well as a percentage of energy intake (En%). By expressing the 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.
- To ensure optimal energy balance and gain insight into the proportion of the population that has a sufficient, excessive or insufficient fat intake, the distribution of fat intake was evaluated against the dietary reference values set by EFSA.
- The reference intake range for total fat ranges between 20-35 En%, except for 3-year-old children where the reference intake range is higher (35-40 En%).
KEY RESULTS
Women have a higher contribution of fat to energy intake (37 En%) than men (36 En%)
Fat intake (as a proportion of energy intake) is highest in adolescents (10–17 years) and adults (18–64 years)
A high proportion of the population exceeds the upper reference level for fat. This proportion is higher in women (67%) than in men (57%)
Fat intake (as a proportion of energy intake), and the proportion of the population exceeding the upper reference level have both increased between 2014–2015 and 2022–2023
Meat, meat products and substitutes (19%), dairy products and substitutes (18%) and fats and oils (17%) are the main contributors of fat intake
By age and sex
Mean total fat intake (g/day) 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).
- The mean fat intake in the total population is 74 g/day.
- Overall, men have a higher fat intake (81 g/day) than women (67 g/day), and this difference is seen across all age groups.
- Based on the combined average for women and men, adolescents (10–17 years) and adults aged 18–64 years have the highest fat intake (75 g/day and 78 g/day respectively), followed by adults aged 65 year and above (69 g/day) and children (3 – 9 years; 62 g/day).
Mean total 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.
- En% = Energy percentage. This represents the proportion of daily energy derived from fat in the diet. It was calculated by multiplying total daily fat intake (g) by 9 kcal per gram and dividing by total daily energy intake (kcal).
- 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).
- When taking into account the daily energy intake, the mean fat intake is 37 En%.
- Contrary to the absolute fat intake, the contribution of fat to energy intake is higher in women (37 En%) than men (36 En%). However, this difference is only pronounced in the adults aged 65 years and above, where women have a fat intake of 37 En% compared to 35 En% for men.
- Based on the combined average for women and men, the fat intake is highest in adolescents (10 – 17 years; 36 En%) and adults (18 – 64 years; 37 En%).
Proportion of the population aged 3 years and older with total 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 (0.3%) has a fat intake below the lower reference level, with the highest percentage found among children aged 3 – 9 years (2%).
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 of the population below the lower reference level (<20 En%, or <35 En% for 3-year-olds) and above the upper reference level (>35 En%, or >40 En% for 3-year-olds) 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).
- In contrast, a high proportion of the population (62%) exceeds the upper reference level. More women (67%) than men (57%) have an intake above the upper reference level. This is the case for all age groups except for the children aged 3 – 9 years.
- When combining data for men and women, adolescents (10 – 17 year; 61%) and adults (18 – 64 year; 67%) are most likely to exceed the upper reference level , compared to children (3 – 9 years; 50%) and adults aged 65 years and older (57%).
- In conclusion, 37% of the population has a fat intake within the reference intake range. This proportion is higher in men (42%) than in women (32%).
By educational level
Mean total fat intake (g/day) 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.
- There is no difference in fat intake (in g/day) according to educational level.
Mean total 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.
- En% = Energy percentage. This represents the proportion of daily energy derived from fat in the diet. It was calculated by multiplying total daily fat intake (g) by 9 kcal per gram and dividing by total daily energy intake (kcal).
- 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.
- There is no difference in the contribution of fat to energy intake according to educational level.
Proportion of the population aged 3 years and older with total 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
- More individuals with a high educational level (0.5%) compared to individuals with a low educational level (0.1%) have a fat intake below the lower reference 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 of the population below the lower reference level (<20 En%, or <35 En% for 3-year-olds) and above the upper reference level (>35 En%, or >40 En% for 3-year-olds) 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.
- There is no difference based on educational level in the proportion of the population exceeding the upper reference level.
- Overall, there is no difference based on educational level in the proportion of individuals with a fat intake within the reference intake range.
By region
Mean total fat intake (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- 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 fat intake (in g/day) according to region.
Mean total 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 fat in the diet. It was calculated by multiplying total daily 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.
- The contribution fat to energy intake is higher in Wallonia (37 En%) compared to Flanders (36 En%).
Proportion of the population aged 3 years and older with total 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 is no difference in the proportion of the population of Flanders compared to Wallonia (both 0.3%) that have a fat intake below the lower reference level.
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 of the population below the lower reference level (<20 En%, or <35 En% for 3-year-olds) and above the upper reference level (>35 En%, or >40 En% for 3-year-olds) 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.
- However, in Flanders, 58% of the population exceeds the upper reference level, which is lower than the proportion in Wallonia, where 65% exceeds the upper reference level.
- Overall, a higher proportion of the population in Flanders (41%) has a fat intake within the reference intake range than in Wallonia (35%).
By year
Mean total fat intake (g/day) 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.
- The fat intake did not change from 2014-2015 to 2022-2023 in the population aged 3 to 64 years.
Mean total 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.
- En% = Energy percentage. This represents the proportion of daily energy derived from fat in the diet. It was calculated by multiplying total daily fat intake (g) by 9 kcal per gram and dividing by total daily energy intake (kcal).
- Adults aged 65 years and older are not included as they were not part of the target population of the 2014-2015 survey.
- The contribution of fat to energy intake increased from 35 En% in 2014-2015 to 37 En% in 2022-2023 in the population aged 3 to 64 years old.
Proportion of the population aged 3 to 64 years with total 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 to 64 year old having a fat intake below the lower reference level decreased from 0.9% in 2014-2015 to 0.3% in 2022-2023.
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 of the population below the lower reference level (<20 En%, or <35 En% for 3-year-olds) and above the upper reference level (>35 En%, or >40 En% for 3-year-olds) was calculated.
- Adults aged 65 years and older are not included as they were not part of the target population of the 2014-2015 survey.
- In 2014-2015, 47% of the population exceeded the upper reference level, which increased to 64% in 2022-2023.
- In conclusion, there is a decrease in the proportion of the population aged 3 to 64 years having a fat intake within the reference intake range, from 52% in 2014-2015 to 36% in 2022-2023.
Contribution of foods to total fat intake
Contribution of foods to total fat intake, 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 (19%), dairy products and substitutes (18%) and fats and oils (17%) are the main contributors of fat intake. They are followed by cakes and sweet biscuits (11%) and condiments, spices, sauces and yeast (9%).
Please cite this page as: Sciensano. Macronutrients: Total fat, Food Consumption Survey 2022-2023, June 2025, Brussels, Belgium, https://www.sciensano.be/en/results-national-food-consumption-survey-2022-2023/macronutrients/total-fat