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Social inequalities and the burden of food-related ill-health

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2001

Aileen Robertson
Aileen Robertson*
Affiliation:
Acting Regional Advisor for Nutrition, Food and Nutrition Policy Unit, Division of Technical Support and Strategic Development, World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe, Scherfigsvej 8, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
*
*Corresponding author: Email [email protected]
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Abstract

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Increased health inequalities are a result of poverty and social inequalities. Examples of how food intake is affected by poverty exist throughout the European Region. The diets of low-income groups are likely to be inadequate. Low-income groups and specific groups such as children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women, and older people often face problems gaining access to a healthy variety of safe foods. Safe healthy food may not be accessible to those most in need. Yet access to a safe and varied healthy diet is a fundamental human right and policies are needed to address this.

Keywords

Health inequalitiesMalnutritionObesityFood policiesPoverty
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 4 , Issue 6a , December 2001 , pp. 1371 - 1373
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 2001

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