Food Standards Agency
Thursday 20 November 2008
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The gap between the diets of people on low incomes and those of the rest of the population is not as wide as some feared, according to research just published by the Food Standards Agency.
The findings suggest that the dietary pattern of people on low incomes is the same as that of the general population, although in some aspects it is slightly less healthy.
Before this survey, there had been some concerns that the diets of this population group were extremely poor and that factors such as restricted access to choice and a lack of confidence in cooking skills were preventing people from eating healthily.
However, the Agency study did not identify any direct link between dietary patterns and income, food access or cooking skills.
The diet-related problems found to affect people on low incomes are in general much the same as those facing the population as a whole, including:
‘Small changes to diet can make a big difference to health so we urge everyone to think about the food that they and their family are eating’
Levels of obesity were also found to be very high – 62% of men, 63% of women, 35% of boys and 34% of girls were overweight or obese, which mirrors the high levels within the general UK population.
The comprehensive survey, involving more than 3,500 people and carried out over 15 months, looked at the dietary habits and nutritional status of the low income population.
It was commissioned by the FSA to further inform its and other Government departments’ work in the area of diet and nutrition among low income groups.
Food Standards Agency Head of Nutrition Rosemary Hignett said: ‘The encouraging news from this research is that the gap between the diets of people on low incomes and those of the rest of the population is not as big as some feared.
‘It is also positive that most people in this group are confident about their cooking skills, have reasonable kitchen facilities and access to large supermarkets.
‘However, the bad news is that this group – like the general population – are not eating as healthily as they could be. Poor diets can lead to chronic disease, such as heart disease and cancer, and contribute to obesity, which is on the rise. Small changes to diet can make a big difference to health so we urge everyone to think about the food that they and their family are eating.’
The research found:
The survey also looked at other lifestyle-related factors, including alcohol consumption, smoking and exercise. It found higher levels of smoking and alcohol consumption, together with lower levels of activity within this low income group.
The Agency will use the evidence from this study in the development of its diet and nutrition policy.
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