Socioeconomic differences in food habits among 6‐ to 9‐year‐old children from 23 countries—WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI 2015/2017)
Journal
Obesity Reviews
Date Issued
2021-07-07
Author(s)
Fismen, Anne‐Siri
Buoncristiano, Marta
Williams, Julianne
Helleve, Arnfinn
Bakacs, Márta
Bergh, Ingunn Holden
Duleva, Vesselka
Fijałkowska, Anna
Gualtieri, Andrea
Hejgaard, Tatjana
Hyska, Jolanda
Kelleher, Cecily C.
Kierkegaard, Lene
Kujundžić, Enisa
Kunešová, Marie
Milanović, Sanja Musić
Nardone, Paola
Nurk, Eha
Ostojic, Sergej M.
Petrauskiene, Ausra
Rakovac, Ivo
Rito, Ana Isabel
Rutter, Harry
Sacchini, Elena
Stojisavljević, Dragana
Farrugia Sant'Angelo, Victoria
Shengelia, Lela
Spinelli, Angela
Tanrygulyyeva, Maya
Weghuber, Daniel
Breda, João
DOI
10.1111/obr.13211
Abstract
Background
Socioeconomic differences in children's food habits are a key public health concern. In order to inform policy makers, cross-country surveillance studies of dietary patterns across socioeconomic groups are required. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between socioeconomic status (SES) and children's food habits.
Methods
The study was based on nationally representative data from children aged 6–9 years (n = 129,164) in 23 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. Multivariate multilevel analyses were used to explore associations between children's food habits (consumption of fruit, vegetables, and sugar-containing soft drinks) and parental education, perceived family wealth and parental employment status.
Results
Overall, the present study suggests that unhealthy food habits are associated with lower SES, particularly as assessed by parental education and family perceived wealth, but not parental employment status. We found cross-national and regional variation in associations between SES and food habits and differences in the extent to which the respective indicators of SES were related to children's diet.
Conclusion
Socioeconomic differences in children's food habits exist in the majority of European and Asian countries examined in this study. The results are of relevance when addressing strategies, policy actions, and interventions targeting social inequalities in children's diets.
Socioeconomic differences in children's food habits are a key public health concern. In order to inform policy makers, cross-country surveillance studies of dietary patterns across socioeconomic groups are required. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between socioeconomic status (SES) and children's food habits.
Methods
The study was based on nationally representative data from children aged 6–9 years (n = 129,164) in 23 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. Multivariate multilevel analyses were used to explore associations between children's food habits (consumption of fruit, vegetables, and sugar-containing soft drinks) and parental education, perceived family wealth and parental employment status.
Results
Overall, the present study suggests that unhealthy food habits are associated with lower SES, particularly as assessed by parental education and family perceived wealth, but not parental employment status. We found cross-national and regional variation in associations between SES and food habits and differences in the extent to which the respective indicators of SES were related to children's diet.
Conclusion
Socioeconomic differences in children's food habits exist in the majority of European and Asian countries examined in this study. The results are of relevance when addressing strategies, policy actions, and interventions targeting social inequalities in children's diets.