Findings from the Fiji STEPS Survey 2025 show that younger Fijians consume red meat and fast food significantly more often than older age groups, raising concerns for long-term health outcomes.
The survey indicates that red meat — including beef, lamb, pork and goat — is eaten an average of 1.6 times per week nationwide.
Consumption was highest among people aged 18 to 29, who ate red meat about 1.8 times a week, compared with just 1.1 times a week among those aged 60 to 69.
Fast-food consumption follows a similar age-related trend. On average, people visited fast-food restaurants 0.7 times a week, or roughly twice every three weeks.
However, young adults aged 18 to 29 reported eating fast food once a week, while those aged 60 to 69 did so only once every three weeks.
In terms of cooking practices, vegetable oil remains the dominant choice, used by more than 90 per cent of households. Smaller proportions of the population reported using olive oil, coconut oil, or other fats such as butter, margarine, ghee or lard.
More than half of the population said they had been advised by a doctor or health worker in the past year to reduce fat intake.
Older adults were far more likely to receive this advice, with two-thirds of people aged 60 to 69 being told to cut back on fats, compared with just under 40 per cent of those aged 18 to 29.
