Last updated on 8-8-2025 by Laïla Boulbayem
Why do we study dietary patterns of the population?
- What we eat and drink has a direct impact on our health and well-being. By studying dietary patterns in the population (What foods are eaten? At what frequency? By whom?), we can identify areas for improvement and make informed decisions to promote better diets. This knowledge helps address the risk of diet-related diseases and supports the development of healthy, sustainable food systems.
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The current page is focused on general consumption of fats and oils regardless of the type of fat or oil consumed. More information on the comparison of the habitual intake of fat and oils with dietary guidelines can be found here.
How do we study the consumption of fats and oils?
- Fat and oil consumption were assessed, overall and for different population groups, using data from two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls. Trained interviewers recorded twice, on two non-consecutive days, all the foods and drinks that participants had consumed on the previous day using a specialised computer program (GloboDiet®).
- The mean consumption of fats and oils (in grams per day) was calculated using the average consumption, overall and by subcategories, over the two recall days of each participant. Since mean distributions are skewed, comparison between population subgroups should be interpreted with caution.
- The detailed methodology can be found here.
What is included in the group of “fats and oils”?
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This group is divided into four subcategories:
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Vegetable oils such as olive oil, sunflower oil, etc.;
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Butter;
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Margarines and cooking fats including deep-frying fats and oils;
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Other fats and oils such as other animal fats (lard, fish oil, etc.) and commercial fats.
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KEY RESULTS
The mean consumption of fats and oils is 17 g per day, including 7 g per day of margarine and cooking fats, 6 g per day of vegetable oils and 4 g per day of butter
The mean consumption of fats and oils increases with age from 10 g per day in children (3-9 years) to 23 g per day in older adults (65 years and above)
The mean consumption of butter increases with age, from 2 g per day in children to 7 g per day in older adults
By sex
Mean consumption of fats and oils (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Mean consumption refers to the population mean consumption, calculated from the individual mean consumption over two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
- The mean fat and oil consumption of the population aged 3 years and older is 17 g/day, of which 7 g/day of margarine and cooking fats, 6 g/day of vegetable oils, 4 g/day of butter and 1 g/day of other fats and oils.
- Men consume on average 18 g/day of fats and oils, while women consume on average 16 g/day of fats and oils.
By age
Mean consumption of fats and oils (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by age, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Mean consumption refers to population mean consumption, calculated from the individual consumption over two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
- 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 and oil consumption increases with age: 10 g/day in children (3-9 years), 12 g/day in adolescents (10-17 years), 16 g/day in young adults (18-39 years), 18 g/day in middle-aged adults (40-64 years) and 23 g/day in older adults (65 years and above).
- The mean consumption of butter is higher among middle-aged (4 g/day) and older adults (7 g/day) than among children (2 g/day), adolescents (1 g/day) and young adults (3 g/day).
- In older adults (aged 65 years and above), we observe an important mean consumption of margarine and cooking fats (10 g/day) and butter (7 g/day), while the mean consumption of vegetable oils is 5 g/day and the mean consumption of other fats and oils is 1 g/day.
By educational level
Mean consumption of fats and oils (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.
- Mean consumption refers to population mean consumption, calculated from the individual consumption over two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
- 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.
- The mean fat and oil consumption is similar over all educational levels: 17 g/day in people with a low educational level, 16 g/day in people with mid-educational level and 17 g/day in people with a high educational level.
By region
Mean consumption of fats and oils (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.
- Mean consumption refers to the population mean consumption, calculated from the individual mean consumption over two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
- Brussels is excluded from the regional comparison due to an insufficient number of participants, but is included in the national data for Belgium.
- The mean consumption of fats and oils is similar in Flanders (17 g/day) and in Wallonia (16 g/day).
- The mean consumption of margarine and cooking fats is higher in Flanders (9 g/day) than in Wallonia (4 g/day), whereas the mean consumption of butter is higher in Wallonia (5 g/day) than in Flanders (3 g/day).
Please cite this page as: Sciensano. Food Consumption: Fats and oils, Food Consumption Survey 2022-2023, June 2025, Brussels, Belgium, https://www.sciensano.be/en/results-national-food-consumption-survey-2022-2023/food-consumption/fats-and-oils