Last updated on 8-7-2025 by Thérésa Lebacq
Why do we study the intake of saturated fats?
- Fats are an important source of energy, promote the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, provide essential fatty acids and play a crucial role in cell structure, immunity and brain development. Saturated fats are one of the four categories of fatty acids, based on their biochemical structure. Excessive consumption of saturated fats can lead to the formation of plaques in the arteries, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Certain saturated fats raise LDL cholesterol levels, the so-called “bad” cholesterol, which is a significant risk factor for heart disease.
- Saturated fats are fats that are typically solid at room temperature and are found in animal products such as butter, cheese, red meat, and full-fat dairy products, as well as some tropical oils such as coconut and palm oil. However, the body can produce saturated fats on its own, making dietary intake unnecessary.
- Due to the harmful effects of saturated fats, it is recommended (Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR)) to limit the intake of saturated fats and replace the intake saturated fats with unsaturated fatty acids in order to maintain overall health.
How do we study it?
- Habitual intake of saturated fats was analysed using the SPADE® program. The detailed methodology can be found here.
- Habitual saturated fats intake is expressed as a percentage of energy intake (En%). By expressing the saturated fatty acid 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 gain insight into the proportion of the population that has an excessive saturated fatty acid intake, the distribution of the saturated fatty acid intake was evaluated against the dietary reference value of maximum 10 En%, as defined by the NNR.
KEY RESULTS
The overall contribution of saturated fats to energy intake is 14 En%
92% of the population has a saturated fats intake above the reference level of 10 En%
The contribution of saturated fats to energy intake, as well as the proportion of individuals exceeding the reference level, is higher in Wallonia compared to Flanders
Saturated fats intake and the proportion of the population exceeding the reference level have increased over time
Almost one third of the saturated fats intake comes from dairy products and substitutes
By age and sex
Mean saturated 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 saturated fats in the diet. It was calculated by multiplying total daily saturated fatty acid 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).
- Overall, the contribution of saturated fats to energy intake is 14 En%.
- There is no difference between men and women, except for the adults aged 65 year and above, where the intake of saturated fats is higher in women (14 En%) than men (13 En%).
- There are no differences in saturated fats intake between the age groups.
Proportion of the population aged 3 years and older with a saturated fat intake (En%) above the reference level, by age and sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Results are based on dietary reference values defined as upper intake level. The proportion of the population exceeding the reference level of 10 En% for saturated fat 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).
- 92% of the population have an intake above the saturated fats reference level of 10 En%.
- There is no substantial difference between women and men, nor between age groups, in exceeding the reference level.
By educational level
Mean saturated 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 saturated fats in the diet. It was calculated by multiplying total daily saturated fatty acid 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 saturated fats intake to energy intake based on educational level (all 14 En%).
Proportion of the population aged 3 years and older with a saturated fat intake (En%) above the reference level, by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Results are based on dietary reference values defined as upper intake level. The proportion of the population exceeding the reference level of 10 En% for saturated fat 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 in the proportion of individuals exceeding the saturated fats reference level based on educational level.
By region
Mean saturated 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 saturated fats in the diet. It was calculated by multiplying total daily saturated fatty acid 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 of saturated fats to energy intake is higher in Wallonia (15 En%) compared to Flanders (13 En%).
Proportion of the population aged 3 years and older with a saturated fat intake (En%) above the reference level, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Results are based on dietary reference values defined as upper intake level. The proportion of the population exceeding the reference level of 10 En% for saturated fat 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.
- A higher proportion (96%) of individuals living in Wallonia than in Flanders (89%) exceed the 10 En% reference level for saturated fats intake.
By year
Mean saturated 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 saturated fats in the diet. It was calculated by multiplying total daily saturated fats 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 saturated fats to energy intake has increased from 13 En% in 2014-2015 to 14 En% in 2022-2023 in the population aged 3 to 64 years.
Proportion of the population aged 3 to 64 years with a saturated fat intake (En%) above the reference level, by year, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Results are based on dietary reference values defined as upper intake level. The proportion of the population exceeding the reference level of 10 En% for saturated fat 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.
- The proportion of the population aged 3-64 years who exceed the saturated fatty acid intake reference level of 10 En% increased from 87% in 2014-2015 to 92% in 2022-2023.
Contribution of foods to saturated fat intake
Contribution of foods to saturated fat intake, in the total population aged 3 years and older, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Dairy products and substitutes are the main contributors to saturated fatty acid intake (29%). They are followed by meat, meat products and substitutes (19%), fats and oils (14%), cakes and sweet biscuits (14%) and sugar and confectionery (7%).
Please cite this page as: Sciensano. Macronutrients: Saturated fats, Food Consumption Survey 2022-2023, June 2025, Brussels, Belgium, https://www.sciensano.be/en/results-national-food-consumption-survey-2022-2023/fats/saturated-fats