title: [Social inequality and diet].
abstract: Despite a general improvement of the living standard in Norway, disparities in living conditions and health between socio-economic groups have increased over the last decades. This article discusses present knowledge on socio-economic differences in diet in Europe and particularly in Norway. Several international and Norwegian studies indicate that the diet of lower socio-economic groups tends to compare poorly to that of higher groups on a number of health-related aspects. More documentation is needed on how diet and food selection differs across population groups; moreover, better knowledge about why these differences exist and persist is needed. This is important for making interventions and other preventive efforts effective in eliminating unfavourable dietary differences.
authors.affiliation: Institutt for allmenn- og samfunnsmedisin, Universitetet i Oslo, Postboks 1130 Blindern, 0318 Oslo. gerd.holmboe-ottesen@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Holmboe-Ottesen
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wandel
authors.forename: Annhild
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mosdøl
mesh_terms: D004032:Diet; D004522:Educational Status; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors