title: Socio-economic differences in diet, physical activity and leisure-time screen use among Scottish children in 2006 and 2010: are we closing the gap?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate socio-economic differences in children's diet, activity and inactivity and changes in these differences over 4 years during which new policies on food in schools were introduced.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two cross-sectional surveys in which diet was assessed by FFQ and physical activity and inactivity were assessed by interviewer-administered questionnaire. Socio-economic status was assessed by the area-based Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scotland, 2006 and 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children aged 3-17 years (n 1700 in 2006, n 1906 in 2010).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both surveys there were significant linear associations between socio-economic deprivation and intakes of energy, non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) as a percentage of food energy, sugar-sweetened beverages, confectionery, crisps and savoury snacks and leisure-time screen use (all higher among children in more deprived areas), while intakes of fruit, fruit juice and vegetables showed the opposite trend. In 2010 children in more deprived areas engaged in more physical activity out of school than those in more affluent areas, but between 2006 and 2010 there was an overall reduction in physical activity out of school. There were also small but statistically significant overall reductions in intakes of confectionery, crisps and savoury snacks, energy and NMES and saturated fat as a percentage of food energy, but no statistically significant change in socio-economic gradients in diet or activity between the two surveys.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventions to improve diet and physical activity in children in Scotland need to be designed so as to be effective in all socio-economic groups.
authors.affiliation: 1Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health,University of Aberdeen,Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD,UK.
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McNeill
authors.affiliation: 2Public Health Nutrition Group,Institute of Applied Health Sciences,University of Aberdeen,Foresterhill,Aberdeen AB25 2ZD,UK.
authors.forename: Lindsey F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Masson
authors.affiliation: 1Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health,University of Aberdeen,Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD,UK.
authors.forename: Jennie I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Macdiarmid
authors.affiliation: 1Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health,University of Aberdeen,Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD,UK.
authors.forename: Leone Ca
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.affiliation: 4Centre for Research in Primary and Community Care,University of Hertfordshire,Hatfield,UK.
authors.forename: Wendy J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Wills
authors.affiliation: 5ScotCen Social Research,Edinburgh,UK.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bromley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003201:Computers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television; D044465:White People
keywords: Activity; Children; Diet; Scotland; Socio-economic status