This analysis of purchasing data collected from 25,674 British households in 2010 found that lower socioeconomic status (SES) groups generally purchased a greater proportion of energy from less healthy foods and beverages than those in higher SES groups, while higher SES groups purchased a greater proportion of energy from healthier food and beverages. At the nutrient-level, socioeconomic differences were less marked, although higher SES was associated with purchasing greater proportions of fibre, protein and total sugars, and smaller proportions of sodium. The observed pattern of purchasing across SES groups contributes to the explanation of observed health differences between groups and highlights targets for interventions to reduce health inequalities.

Status: Published. Pechey, Jebb, Kelly, Almiron-Roig, Conde, Nakamura, Shemilt, Suhrcke & Marteau. 2013. Socioeconomic differences in purchases of more vs. less healthy foods and beverages: Analysis of over 25,000 British households in 2010. Access full text