Social deprivation is associated with poorer adherence to healthy eating dietary goals: analysis of household food purchases

BackgroundThe Scottish Dietary Goals (SDGs) were published to promote healthier diets. Thehigher cost of healthier diets may be a barrier to their adoption by households indeprived areas. The aim was to estimate dietary intakes relevant to the SGDs,derived from purchase data of food and drinks brought into the home by area ofdeprivation.

Methods A cross-sectional study of estimated intakes of food and nutrients, and onfruit and vegetables (F&V) specifically, from Kantar Worldpanel household foodpurchase data in Scotland from 2012 (n = 2586). Households were grouped by areabased index of multiple deprivation.

ResultsDiets of households were further from achieving the SDGs as deprivationincreased. Linear regression showed that estimated intakes of oil rich fishdecreased, and red and processed meat increased with increasing deprivation (bothp<0.001), while estimated intakes of F&V decreased (p<0.001) mainly because oflower amounts of fresh F&V (p<0.001). Negative linear associations were observedbetween deprivation and the amount spent per person on F&V (P<0.001), and theamount spent per 100g of F&V (p<0.001).

ConclusionsThis study provides further insights into the relationship between socialdeprivation and diet quality in Scotland, notably in amounts of fresh F&V purchased.