IndexIntroductionDiscussionConclusionReferencesIntroductionDeciding how much energy and macronutrients is sufficient to promote optimal health is a major challenge that people have faced for decades. The problem is exacerbated by myths and assumptions spread by people unaware of the real nutritional needs for different age groups and genders. To address the knowledge gap in the UK population, the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA) published an estimate of energy and nutritional requirements for various groups within the UK population in 1991 (Public Health England, 2016). COMA has established four types of dietary reference values. The estimated average requirement (EAR) characterizes the average macronutrient energy needed by a specific group of people, while the reference nutrient intake (RNI) refers to the amount of nutrients that meet the needs of (97.5% of the group target). Reference Nutrient Intake (LRNI) is the minimum amount of energy required to meet the needs of a specific group of people. The COMA was subsequently replaced by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) which proceeded to update the Dietary Reference Values ​​(DRVs). established in 1991. Today, DRV is widely used by the UK Department of Health and the European Food Safety Authority. The DRV is a series of energy estimates based on results from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) regarding optimal energy and macronutrient needs for different age groups. The cross-sectional survey is continuous and is designed to collect detailed quantitative data on the food intake and nutritional status of the UK population. Therefore, among the emerging dietary trends, the following is a critical review and comparison of standard DRVs with current energy and macronutrients for men and women aged 19 to 64 years. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Discussion A closer look at men's and women's total energy intake is below the recommended DRVs. In essence, the average daily energy intake for men is 2091 Kcal and for women 1632 Kcal, lower than the 2500 Kcal required for men and 2000 Kcal for women. These figures are lower than the EARs for both men and women in the UK and continue to decline steadily. Assuming that the dietary intake data shown above is accurate, the implication is that energy expenditure levels have decreased significantly relative to the decline in dietary energy intake. Furthermore, despite declining daily energy intake, the UK population is experiencing a steady increase in obesity. Over the past decade, the average body weight of UK adults has increased by more than two kilograms. Coincidentally, average daily calorie intake dropped by 4%, along with a significant drop in sugar consumption of nearly 8%. Furthermore, people in the UK have become increasingly conscious of the food they consume outside the home. Since 2001, UK adults have been consuming less when out, as evidenced by a drop from 310 calories to 220 in 2012 (British Nutrition Foundation, 2018). Compared to data collected in the early 1970s, Britons consume much less than their counterparts in the early 1970s and 1980s. Buttriss and Lanham-New (2018) agree that the increase in obesity is attributed to a steady declineof physical activity as more and more people adopt a sedentary lifestyle. On average, Britons walk and cycle less today. Today, British adults travel an average of 180 miles per year, a sharp decline from 255 miles in 1976. Furthermore, British citizens average only 42 miles per year compared to 51 miles in 1976. Furthermore, over 40 % of UK adults who spend less than ten minutes walking to work because they are highly dependent on the UK's extensive transport infrastructure. Furthermore, the invention of labour-saving devices that allow people to work remotely from home has significantly limited the opportunities for UK adults to engage in meaningful physical activity. Therefore, the causal factor for the increase in obesity in the UK population is a decrease in physical inactivity or energy expenditure, rather than a decrease in daily energy intake. These findings highlight the importance of engaging in active physical exercise as energy intake decreases due to the possibility of failing to meet micronutrient requirements. The simplest and most cost-effective strategy for increasing your physical activity level is to incorporate more activity into your daily routine, such as cycling or walking to work instead of getting into a vehicle. The findings also suggest that the UK population is being influenced by emerging dietary and health trends that promote a reduction in daily calorie intake. Over the past decade, the wellness industry has expanded rapidly as more and more people become obsessed with a low-carb diet. After years of raising awareness of the health risks of being overweight or obese, the UK population has embraced healthy eating habits by reducing carbohydrates in the diet. Furthermore, years of demonizing carbohydrates as unhealthy and as the primary food group that causes weight gain have given high-carbohydrate diets a bad name (SACN, 2012). As a result, diets such as Paleo, Keto and Atkins are becoming increasingly popular among UK adults looking to lose weight. All these diets have one common factor, emphasis on a low carbohydrate diet. Today, people trying to lose weight consume less pasta, bread and cereals. Additionally, these diets highlighted the perceived value of proteins and healthy fats as major drivers of good health. Today, protein consumption by UK adults has increased significantly since the mid-1990s and remains higher than the daily dietary requirement. The average protein intake by UK adults is almost double the recommended DRVs for individuals aged over 19. Despite an increasing number of UK adults switching to veganism and vegetarianism, meat protein consumption is still considerably high. In 2018, UK adults buy more fish and red meat than vegetables. Additionally, since 2008, the food service industry has increased the portion of protein delivered to consumers. On the other hand, the consumption of healthy fats has gained ground in recent years, although more needs to be done regarding saturated fats. The main sources of saturated fat for the UK population include animal meat and dairy products. The UK Government, through the Department of Health, states that fat should account for less than 35% of your daily calorie intake. In this context, trans fats should not exceed 2%.