Unhealthy eating habits remain widespread in Fiji, with new data from the Fiji STEPS Survey 2025 showing that the vast majority of adults are not meeting recommended dietary guidelines, increasing the risk of noncommunicable diseases.
The national survey, conducted between May 2024 and June 2025 among adults aged 18 to 69 years, found that 88.7 per cent of adults consume fewer than five servings of fruit and vegetables per day.
The figure was high across both sexes, affecting 87.5 per cent of men and 90 per cent of women.
Salt consumption also remains a concern. About 21.9 per cent of adults said they always or often add salt or salty sauce to their food before or during meals, while 28.9 per cent reported frequently eating processed foods high in salt.
Measured salt intake far exceeded recommended levels. Average daily salt consumption was 9.7 grams per day using the INTERSALT method and 15.1 grams per day using the Kawasaki method — well above the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of 5 grams per day. Men recorded higher salt intake than women under both measures.
Sugary drink consumption continues to feature prominently in daily diets. Adults consumed sugar-sweetened beverages on average 2.9 days per week, with a mean intake of 1.1 sugary drinks per day. Men reported slightly higher consumption than women.
Carbohydrates remain a staple of the Fijian diet, with adults consuming carbohydrate-based foods on an average of 6.6 days per week, and about 2.7 times per day, reflecting near-daily reliance on starchy foods.
