Poorer children’s sugar timebomb

Better-off families giving youngsters healthier start

CHILDREN from poorer families are eating increasing amounts of sugar compared to their betteroff counterparts.

Despite a £56million investment in anti-obesity campaigns, figures suggest the nutritional gap between higher and lower income families is continuing to widen.

Those from middle class backgrounds are apparently heeding the warnings about the dangers of too much sugar.

But children from low-income families are increasingly going to school on junkpredictor food cereals and consuming a stream of sweets and soft drinks.

Statistics from the Scottish Health Survey (SHS) suggest dietary inequality is a rapidly growing problem across Scotland.

Robert Brown, of nutrition think tank the McCarrison Society, said: ‘All the scientific observations we have scream that children need the best diet possible if they are to optimise their life opportunities.

‘Trajectory in life is generally set in childhood, so poor nutrition affecting health, happiness and education in those early years can affect job satisfaction, stress levels and financial outcomes for decades to come.’

The SHS interviews more than 1,700 children aged from two to 15, and their parents, every year.

The 2016 figures show income is becoming a far more significant of sugar intake. Where families are earning at least £21,357 – the wealthier 60 per cent – children are eating less of it.

Only 30 per cent are choosing high-sugar cereals, compared with an average of 33.3 per cent in 2012-15; 44 per cent eat sweets or chocolate daily, down from 46.7 per cent; and only 24 per cent have soft drinks every day, a drop from 33.7 per cent.

But among youngsters from the least wealthy households, the trend is in the opposite direction.

In the low-income bracket, 42 per cent choose sugary cereals, up from an average of 34 per cent; sweets and chocolate are eaten every day by 53 per cent, edging up from 52.7 per cent. Daily soft drink consumption has fallen to 39 per cent compared to 43.2 per cent – a smaller drop than for their wealthier peers.

Scottish Labour public health spokesman Colin Smyth said: ‘These figures expose the stark reality that wealth inequality is the biggest cause of health inequality.

‘Until the UK and Scottish Governments wake up to the impact poverty has on the health of the nation, people from our most deprived communities will continue to suffer and die before their time.

‘It is clear that bold and radical action is needed to tackle public health inequality and the wider gap that exists in society, between the richest and the poorest.’

Last month, the SNP unveiled a raft of proposals, including a ban on junk food adverts before the 9pm watershed, health visitors giving parents advice on portion size and grants for small businesses to produce healthier meals.

Public health minister Aileen Campbell said: ‘This is a package of bold measures designed to help people make healthier choices, empower personal change and show real leadership.

‘The new strategy will seek to prioritise work with families in poverty and on low incomes to design services and approaches that meet their specific needs and have an impact.’