The bar chart compares the average salt consumption of males and females across various age groups in the United States in 2000, alongside the recommended daily salt intake for adults.
Overall, males consistently consumed more salt than females across all age ranges. Both sexes exceeded the recommended intake, with the highest levels recorded among adolescents and young adults aged 12-39.
Among children under six, salt consumption was the lowest, at roughly 2,000 mg for boys and slightly below that for girls. Intake rose notably among those aged 6-11, reaching around 3,200 mg in males and 2,800 mg in females. The peak occurred in the 12-19 and 20-39 brackets, when men consumed over 4,000 mg and women about 3,500 mg of salt daily. From age 40 onward, salt intake gradually declined, though it remained well above the recommended threshold even among those aged over 60.
In summary, while salt consumption decreased with age after peaking in early adulthood, both men and women consistently ingested more than the advised amount.