Inventing our future Collective action for a sustainable economy

52
Diet
‘People in lower socio-economic groups tend to eat less fruit and vegetables, and less food which
is rich in dietary fibre…. As a consequence, those in lower socio-economic groups tend to have low
intakes of anti-oxidant and other vitamins, and some minerals, especially relative to intakes in higher
socio-economic groups’. 83
4.46 A great deal of work has been done to examine the reasons behind a poor diet. A report by the
National Food Alliance challenged the presumption that anyone living in the UK could choose a
healthy diet, arguing that to make good choices, people needed appropriate information, better
access to appropriate sources of food and more money to spend on food. 84 Subsequently the
Policy Commission on The Future of Farming and Food flagged the phenomenon of ‘food
deserts’ asserting that ‘there are places where low income consumers cannot access [healthy]
food at reasonable prices, particularly fruit and vegetables. The major supermarkets do not
operate there, and local shops do not provide fresh produce.’ 85
4.47 Food deserts are generally associated with inner urban areas. However the phenomenon is not
exclusively urban. A study undertaken in Norfolk in 2002 estimated that only about a quarter
of villages had a shop which sold any fruit and vegetables. It observed further that while village
shops were used for ‘top-up’ shopping by most customers, a few residents – particularly older
people – relied heavily on them. 86 Hence for a potentially vulnerable group of people, there is
evidence of food deserts in rural parts of the East of England.
Obesity
4.48 Obesity is caused when the amount of energy expended is less than energy intake. In the East of
England, among adults (aged 16-64), the proportion of the population that is overweight or obese
is 55% in social class I (professional) and 64% in social class V (unskilled manual). Spatially, levels of
obesity are higher among sub-urban and rural populations than among people living in urban areas. 87
Sexual Health
4.49 Trends in sexual behaviour in the East of England are similar to national patterns. Overall, more people
are becoming sexually active at a younger age; however there is a strong socio-economic gradient
and problems associated with becoming sexually active at a young age are closely correlated with
poor levels of educational attainment, early school leaving age, family disruption and other forms
of disadvantage. Hence the links to the broader determinants are again evident; for example,
almost half of under-18 conceptions occur in the most deprived 20% of wards. 88 Across the
Region, the incidence of sexually transmitted infections is increasing, especially among young people. 89
83 Independent inquiry into inequalities in health report, chaired by Sir Donald Acheson, published by the DH/The Stationery Office (Crown copyright),
1998 page 63.
84 Myths About Food and Low Income - If They Don’t Eat a Healthy Diet it’s Their Own Fault! National Food Alliance (1997).
85 Farming and Food: A Sustainable Future Report of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food, 2002 (available from the Cabinet Office
website www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk).
86 Food access and inequalities in rural Norfolk Report by Tully Wakeman, East Anglia Food Link, May 2002.
87 Obesity in the East of England ERPHO 2004.
88 This issue is considered further in Chapter 7.
89 Sexual Health in the East of England ERPHO INpho Briefing Papers on Topical Public Health Issues, October 2003 Issue 6.