Session 1: Public health nutrition. Nutrition and social disadvantage in Ireland

Abstract

There is now considerable evidence from several data sources, including the National Surveys of Lifestyles, Attitudes and Nutrition, that dietary patterns vary according to social position in the Republic of Ireland and those individuals in situations of social disadvantage experience barriers to consuming a healthy diet according to recommended guidelines. Obesity is a major impending public health problem related in part to social position that requires concerted inter-sectoral policy action. The Life-ways Cross-generation Cohort Study of >1000 Irish families has been followed prospectively since antenatal recruitment in 2001. Published findings to date indicate considerable social variability in food consumption and BMI patterns during pregnancy in the case of the maternal cohort. The present paper reports nutrient intake across the four family cohorts related to a key variable of interest, means-tested General Medical Services eligibility.