Study shows poorer children in Scotland twice as likely to suffer bad health
There is also a warning that obesity levels are on the rise.
Last updated 24th Oct 2022
Researchers at the University of Glasgow are warning children from the most deprived areas in Scotland are twice as likely to suffer poor health.
The report shows obesity levels have risen since the start of the century when 1 in 10 5-year-olds were at risk.
"Some families tend to skip meals"
Dr Anna Pearce, Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow’s MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, worked on the study.
She told MFR: "There are large inequalities in healthy diets across Scotland and those from poorer households often worry about where their next meal will come from.
"Some families tend to skip meals and we know that healthier foods are far more expensive than less healthy foods.
"Before the cost-of-living crisis, families on lower incomes would require half of their disposable income to lead a healthy diet compared to just 10% if you were from a higher income home."
Worrying data
However, researchers did discover that smoking in pregnancy among people from all backgrounds has fallen.
David Finch, Assistant Director, the Health Foundation, added: “Our review aims to fully understand all the factors which cause health inequality in Scotland, and to provide policy makers with a foundation to improve the outcomes for the sections of the population who are struggling the most.
“This stark and concerning data on childhood obesity and other childhood inequalities – shows the importance of supporting good health and tackling inequalities for children from the youngest ages and for their families.
“The evidence pointing to nutrition as the driver, rather than physical activity, requires us to examine the links between the health of our children and cost of living, including access to healthy food – a particular concern with food prices rising by 13% in the year to August.
“We hope our review will create a foundation for improving the health of people across Scotland.”
This work was funded by the Health Foundation. The MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences unit is also funded by the Medical Research Council and the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office.