Nutrition and Socioeconomic Factors

Question 1

Other than socioeconomic factors, what other factors can contribute to poor nutrition and therefore poor health?

Answer 1

• Psychological factors
• Physiological factors
• Lifestyle factors

Question 2

What are some social factors which contribute to poor nutrition amongst those with low income?

Answer 2

• Income available for food
• Accessibility to food and food stores
• Transport
• Influence of food and beverage advertising
• Knowledge
• Cooking skills
• Religion and beliefs
• Food storing facilities

Question 3

What is the Black Report (1980)?

Answer 3

A report stating that ‘Higher levels of morbidity and mortality are seen amongst the poorest in society’.

Question 4

In the poorer societies, what are some of the diseases/comorbidities/risks more likely to be seen?

Answer 4

• CVD
• Hypertension
• Obesity
• Cancers
• Low Birth Weight Infant

Question 5

In poorer societies, is it more likely to see people with lower or higher BMI’s? Why?

Answer 5

Generally, higher BMIs are seen.

Could be due to decreased knowledge, accessibility to food, fast food culture (cheaper).

Question 6

An increased waist/hip ratio provide measures of central obesity. What chronic diseases are associated with an increased waist/hip ratio?

Answer 6

• Hypertension
• CVD
• Type II diabetes
• Hyperlipidaemia

Question 7

What % of both women and men were overweight/obese according to the 2007 LIDNS survey?

Answer 7

62% men and 63% of women were overweight or obese in the 2007 LIDNS survey

Question 8

What does LIDNS stand for?

Answer 8

Low Income Diet and Nutrition Survey

Question 9

What did the 1998 Acheson Report suggest?

Answer 9

That the government could play a role in reducing nutrition-related health issues.

Question 10

What surveys stated that ‘differences exist in food consumption and nutritional status between lower and higher socioeconomic groups’?

Answer 10

LIDNS and NDNS

Question 11

What is the aim behind the LIDNS survey?

Answer 11

To provide evidence to underpin the development of food policy to help reduce health inequalities

Question 12

What did the LIDNS survey assess/evaluate/provide in low income populations?

Answer 12

• Levels of physical activity
• How diets vary from recommendations
• Provided info on smoking and oral health
• Weekly income spent on food and drink

Question 13

~LIDNS FACT~

Answer 13

LIDNS was the most comprehensive survey of its kind in the UK

Question 14

Roughly how many people were surveyed for the LIDNS?

Answer 14

3,700 people from bottom 15% population

Question 15

What was the weekly income spend on food and drink reported by the 2007 LIDNS? How did this differ from the 2004/05 DEFRA survey?

Answer 15

LIDNS 2007: £80-90/week

DEFRA 2004/05: £28/week

Question 16

What 4 methods did the LIDNS survey use to collect data?

Answer 16

• 24 hour recall
• F2F questionnaire
• Anthropometric methods (physical measurements)
• Biochemical collection

Question 17

What were some of the findings from LIDNS for the types of foods consumed by low-income populations?

Answer 17

• Majority of consumed fats were of the saturated kind.
• Tended to drink more high-sugar soft drinks
• Consumption of better nutritional foods increased with age
• Less likely to eat wholegrains and vegetables

Question 18

What were the average fruit/veg portions found by the LIDNS survey?

Answer 18

Average = 2.2 portions/day

Question 19

What was the surprising finding from the LIDNS survey about vitamin intakes?

Answer 19

All vitamins (except Vit A and D) were above the RNI for majority of people

Question 20

What was the finding from the LIDNS survey about mineral intakes?

Answer 20

Women consistently have iron < RNI
Sodium intakes were generally high >RNI
Other mineral such as calcium, zinc, iodine were all

Question 21

What was the LIDNS findings for haemoglobin?

Answer 21

Both women and men had haemoglobin levels below the anaemic threshold

Question 22

What % of low income children receive a free school meal?

Answer 22

53%

Question 23

What 3 lifestyle factors were increased in lower-income populations?

Answer 23

• smoking
• alcohol use
• low physical activity