The graph illustrates the per capita consumption of whole milk and low-fat milk in the US in the period between 1970 and 2015.
Overall although whole milk decreased, low-fat milk followed an upward trend, though they saw a fall in the beginning. Of particular note is that low fat milk became the leader in terms of attendance rates, as opposed to whole milk, the previously dominant category, coming at the other end of the spectrum by 2015.
Overall consumption of whole milk fell steadily throughout the period. In 1970, Americans drank approximately 25 gallons per person, making it by far the most popular type of milk. This figure declined sharply to around 14 gallons in 1990 before continuing to decrease more gradually, reaching roughly 7 gallons in 2010 and just 5 gallons by the end of the period.
By contrast, low-fat milk experienced the opposite trend. Starting at only about 7 gallons per capita in 1970, its consumption increased consistently to approximately 14 gallons by 1990, when it equalled that of whole milk. It then remained relatively stable at around 14 gallons until 2010, before slipping slightly to about 13 gallons in 2015. As a result, low-fat milk overtook whole milk and became the more widely consumed variety.