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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Reduce consumption of added sugars by people aged 2 years and over — NWS‑10 Data Methodology and Measurement

This objective is a Leading Health Indicator (LHI). Learn about LHIs.

On this page:  About the National Data  |  Methodology  |  History

About the National Data

Data

Data Source:  National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), CDC/NCHS

Baseline: 13.5 percent was the mean percentage of calories from added sugars consumed by persons aged 2 years and over in 2013-16

Target: 11.5 percent

Numerator
Sum of percent daily caloric intake from added sugars from a first day 24 hour recall among persons aged 2 years and over
Denominator
Number of persons aged 2 years and over
Target-setting method
Projection
Target-setting method details
Linear trend fitted using weighted least squares and a projection at the 50 percent prediction interval.
1
Target-setting method justification
Trend data were evaluated for this objective. Using historical data points, a trend line was fitted using weighted least squares and the trend was projected into the next decade. This method was used because three or more comparable data points were available, the projected value was within the range of possible values, and a projection at the 50 percent prediction interval was selected because no additional information could be used to assess the trend line so the target was based on projection.

Methodology

Methodology notes

What We Eat in America (WWEIA) is the dietary intake interview component of NHANES. WWEIA is conducted as a partnership between the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). DHHS is responsible for the sample design and data collection, and USDA is responsible for the survey's dietary data collection methodology, maintenance of the databases used to code and process the data, and data review and processing. USDA also funds the collection and processing of Day 2 dietary intake data, which are used to develop variance estimates and calculate usual nutrient intakes.

NHANES includes the collection of 1 day of dietary data for all respondents through in-person 24 hour recalls and collection of a 2nd day 24-hour recall by telephone. For the analyses of mean intakes, only the first 24 hour recall is used. Each respondent is asked to recall the kinds and amounts of foods eaten at home and away from home during the previous day. Amounts of foods reported in household measures are then converted to gram amounts.

Estimates were calculated using the USDA MyPyramid Equivalents Database (MPED) for 2001-2004 and the USDA Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED) starting with the 2007-2010 data. Added sugars are defined as sugars used in ingredients in processed and prepared foods, such as breads, cakes, other grain-based desserts, soft drinks, jams, jellies, candies, ice cream, and sugars reported separately by survey participants or added to foods at the table.

Breast-fed children are excluded from the numerator and denominator.

Age-adjustment notes

This Indicator uses Age-Adjustment Groups:

  • Total: 2-5, 6-11, 12-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+
  • Sex: 2-5, 6-11, 12-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+
  • Race/Ethnicity: 2-5, 6-11, 12-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+
  • Educational Attainment: 25-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+
  • Family Income (percent poverty threshold): 2-5, 6-11, 12-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+
  • Health Insurance Status: 2-5, 6-11, 12-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-64
  • Marital Status: 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+
  • Country of Birth: 2-5, 6-11, 12-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+
  • Veteran Status: 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+
  • Activity limitation: 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+
  • Obesity Status - Adults: 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+

History

Comparable HP2020 objective
Retained, which includes core objectives that are continuing from Healthy People 2020 with no change in measurement.

1. Because Healthy People 2030 objectives have a desired direction (e.g., increase or decrease), the confidence level of a one-sided prediction interval can be used as an indication of how likely a target will be to achieve based on the historical data and fitted trend.