The Fruit Shop - NHSGGC Public Health Resource Unit

economic and other influences from which the health status of a
nation emerges (Wood et al 2001). One of the key reasons for
Scotland’s poor health is deprivation. Those in the most deprived
areas have a 2.5 times greater risk of dying from CHD than those in
the least deprived areas. This association is most obvious in those
aged under 65 (Scottish Executive 2000). Life expectancy in
Scotland, for women, is the lowest in Europe and for men, the second
lowest after Portugal (Leon et al 2003).
The population of Scotland also has a notably low vegetable and fruit
intake. The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2003) showed that
on average men and women consumed fewer than three portions of
fruit and vegetables. This was significantly lower for those living in
households in receipt of state benefits. Within such households men
consumed on average 2.1 portions compared with 2.8 in other
households, whereas women consumed only 1.9 compared with 3.1.
Moreover, variations in fruit and vegetable intake within Scotland
relate to regional differences in CHD (National Heart Forum1998).
The Scottish Heart Health Study (Bolton-Smith et al 1991), an
epidemiological study of 10,359 men and women aged between 40-59
years, found that the highest CHD mortality amongst men (SMR136)
contrasted with the lowest (SMR 61) in fruit and vegetable
consumption. In the former group 17% ate no green vegetables and
30% no fruit compared to the latter where only 6% ate no green
vegetables and 13% ate no fruit. However, it could be argued that
those people who eat more fruit and vegetables tend also to be those
who smoke less and exercise more, thus have healthier lifestyles.
The Diet and Nutrition Survey (1998) suggested that strategies to
increase consumption in lower socio-economic groups need to focus
on how often people eat fruit and vegetables, as well as how much is
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