Fast food remains a staple in the American diet, with over 30 percent of adults and children consuming it on any given day between August 2021 and August 2023, according to two new reports released by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

The data, drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, reveals that 32 percent of adults aged 20 and older reported eating fast food on a typical day. On average, adults consumed 11.7 percent of their daily calories from fast food, a figure that declined with age and was slightly lower than in previous years. In comparison, adults were getting 14.1 percent of their daily calories from fast food during 2013–2014.

Dr. Nimit N. Shah, Ph.D., M.P.H., and his team at the NCHS in Hyattsville, Maryland, led both studies. They point out that while the percentage of calories from fast food has dipped, the overall consumption rate remains high, especially among younger adults.

The second report focuses on children aged 2 to 11 and adolescents aged 12 to 19, finding that 30.1 percent consumed fast food on a given day during the two-year period. Youth overall consumed an average of 11.4 percent of their daily calories from fast food. Broken down further, the report found that children consumed 8.5 percent, while adolescents consumed a significantly higher 14.6 percent of their daily calories from fast food.

Importantly, the report notes a slight decline in fast food calorie intake among youth compared to previous data from 2017 through March 2020.

While the small drop in calorie share may suggest marginal progress in dietary patterns, health experts warn that frequent fast food consumption is still a major concern, particularly given its links to obesity, diabetes, and other chronic health conditions.

As the U.S. continues to grapple with rising rates of childhood and adult obesity, the findings underscore the need for better nutritional education, greater access to healthier food options, and policy-level interventions aimed at reducing the dependency on fast food—especially among the nation's youth.