Diet and nutrition: adults

The 2011 Scottish Health Survey found that 20% of men and 23% of women consumed the recommended amount of five or more portions of fruit and vegetables per day.  For both men and women there has been little change since 2003. The proportion of adults meeting the daily recommendation for fruit and vegetable consumption varies by age (Chart 1 (view chart)
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Men aged 16-24 were least likely to consume five portions or more per day (11%). This increased to 22% for those aged between 25 and 54, 21-23% in the 55 to 74 age group, and 22% for those aged 75 and over. Among women, 22-25% of those aged 25-54 met the recommendation, similarly 22-25% in the 55-74 age group, and 22% in the oldest age group.

Chart 2 (view chart)
 Close  shows the prevalence of consuming five or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day in Scotland by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintile in 2010/11. SIMD is the Scottish Government's official measure of area based multiple deprivation. In the least deprived quintile, 28% of adults were meeting daily fruit and vegetable consumption guidelines compared with only 15% in the most deprived quintile.

Comparison of Scottish Health Survey and Health Survey for England data shows that a lower percentage of respondents consumed five or more portions per day in Scotland than in England in 2011 with the biggest difference seen in the older age groups (adults aged 55-64 and 65-74). (Chart 3 (view chart)
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