VARIOUS DIETS can satisfy human nutritional requirements. Some populations subsist almost entirely on plant foods; others eat mostly animal foods. Although Americans consume less meat than do a number of the traditionally living people described here, they have on average higher cholesterol levels and higher levels of obesity (as indicated by body mass index) because they consume more energy than they expend and eat meat that is higher in fat.

Population	Energy Intake(kilocalories / day)	Energy from Animal Foods(%)	Energy from Plant Foods(%)	Total Blood Cholesterol (milligrams / deciliter)	Body Mass Index(weight / height squared)
HUNTER-GATHERERS
!Kung (Botswana)	2,100	33	67	121	19
Inuit (North America)	2,350	96	4	141	24
PASTORALISTS
Turkana (Kenya)	1,411	80	20	186	18
Evenki (Russia)	2,820	41	59	142	22
AGRICULTURALISTS
Quechua (Highland Peru)	2,002	5	95	150	21
INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES
U.S.	2,250	23	77	204	26
Note: Energy intake figures reflect the adult average (males and females); blood cholesterol and body mass index (BMI) figures are given for males. Healthy BMI = 18.5- 24.9; overweight = 25.0- 29.9; obese = 30 and higher.