Residential area deprivation predicts fruit and vegetable consumption independently of individual educational level and occupational social class: a cross sectional population study in the Norfolk cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC-Norfolk).
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the independent association between individual and area based socioeconomic measures and fruit and vegetable consumption.


METHODS
Cross sectional population based study.


METHODS
22,562 men and women aged 39-79 years living in the general community in Norfolk, United Kingdom, recruited using general practice age-sex registers.


METHODS
Fruit and vegetable intake assessed using a food frequency questionnaire.


RESULTS
Being in a manual occupational social class, having no educational qualifications, and living in a deprived area all independently predicted significantly lower consumption of fruit and vegetables. The effect of residential area deprivation was predominantly in those in manual occupational social class and no educational qualifications.


CONCLUSIONS
Understanding some of the community level barriers to changing health related behaviours may lead to more effective interventions to improving health in the whole community, particularly those who are most vulnerable.
Shohaimi
Shamarina
S
Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, UK.
Welch
Ailsa
A
Bingham
Sheila
S
Luben
Robert
R
Day
Nicholas
N
Wareham
Nicholas
N
Khaw
Kay-Tee
KT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000145:classification*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014675:Vegetables