The bar chart compares the percentage of men and women in the UK who consumed five or more portions of fruit and vegetables per day in 2006, broken down by age group.
Overall, women were more likely than men to meet the recommended intake across almost every age group, and consumption generally rose with age before dipping slightly in the oldest group.
Among younger adults aged 19-24, consumption was lowest overall, with only around 15% of men and 16% of women eating the recommended amount. This figure rose steadily through the 25-34, 35-44, and 45-54 age groups, with men remaining fairly constant at around 22%, while women increased gradually to roughly 27%.
The highest consumption levels were recorded in the 55-64 age bracket, where approximately 32% of men and 34% of women ate five or more portions daily, representing the peak for both genders. This was followed by a decline in the 65-74 group, to about 27% for men and 29% for women.
Interestingly, in the oldest group (75 and over), the gap between genders disappeared, with both men and women converging at around 24%, the only age group where consumption was identical.
