Dietary Quality and Diet-Related Factors Among Emerging Adults (18–23 y) in the United States Are a Cause for Concern: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015–2018

Poor dietary quality is a risk factor for diet-related chronic disease and suboptimal nutritional patterns often begin early in the life course. Although the dietary intakes of young children, adolescents, and middle-aged and older adults are well established, much less is known about emerging adults, who represent a unique time point in life, as they are undergoing significant changes in food environments, autonomy, finances, and caregiver and parental involvement.