A new report has revealed that nearly all adults in the UK are not eating enough fibre, a vital nutrient linked to a growing number of bowel cancer cases among people under 50.
NHS guidelines recommend adults consume at least 30g of fibre daily—roughly equivalent to five portions of fruit and vegetables, two thick slices of wholemeal bread, and a large jacket potato with the skin. However, data from the Government’s Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) shows a staggering 96% of adults fall short.
The report, which tracked diets from 2019 to 2023, also found that fewer than one in ten children and just a fifth of adults meet the five-a-day fruit and vegetable recommendation. Alarmingly, nine in ten children and one in five adults exceed the recommended daily sugar intake, putting them at risk of tooth decay, obesity, and other health issues.
The findings come amid a worrying rise in bowel cancer among people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. England has one of the fastest-growing rates of early-onset bowel cancer worldwide, with cases in under-50s rising an average of 3.6% per year between 2007 and 2017. Research suggests that low fibre intake may contribute to more than a quarter (28%) of bowel cancer cases in the UK.
Fibre, also called “roughage,” is crucial for digestion and helps people feel full for longer. Experts warn that the growing consumption of processed foods—often stripped of fibre—is a major factor in dangerously low intakes. The National Diet and Nutrition Survey shows adults aged 19 to 64, as well as those over 75, consume just 16.4g of fibre daily on average, barely over half the recommended amount.
Cereals and cereal products were the main source of fibre across all age groups, followed by vegetables, which contributed less than a quarter of daily intake.
Sugar intake is also a concern. Less than one in ten children (9%) and fewer than one in five adults (19%) stay within the NHS’s recommended daily sugar limit of 30g, or around seven teaspoons. Excess sugar increases the risk of weight gain, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and tooth decay.
Saturated fat consumption is similarly high. NHS guidance recommends no more than 30g per day for men and 20g for women. Yet 85% of children and 82% of adults exceed these limits. Teenagers aged 11–18 average just 2.8 portions of fruit and vegetables daily, with only 9% meeting the five-a-day target. Adults consume 3.7 portions, with only 17% reaching the recommended amount. Researchers suggest this is partly due to Covid-related disruptions and the rising cost of living.
Sonia Pombo, head of research at campaign group Action on Salt, said:
“These findings show that the UK population, especially children, is not getting the nutrition needed for good health. Low intake of fibre and vegetables, combined with high sugar and fat consumption, sets the stage for serious health problems, including heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. The government must introduce stronger policies to improve access to affordable, nutritious food and curb unhealthy food marketing.”
The report comes just weeks after ministers delayed plans to ban junk food adverts aimed at children, now postponed until January 2026. Around 32,000 bowel cancer cases are diagnosed annually in the UK, with 142,000 in the US. It remains the third most common cancer in the UK—the same disease that killed Dame Deborah James in 2022 at the age of 40.
Experts suggest multiple factors may be behind the increase in early-onset bowel cancer, including obesity, pollution, and even tiny plastic particles in drinking water.
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