Thousands of Lives Could Be Saved If Rest of UK Adopted Average Diet in England, Study Concludes

[Logan]

Around 4,000 deaths could be prevented every year if the UK population adopted the average diet eaten in England, concludes research published in BMJ Open.

Death rates for cardiovascular disease and cancer are higher in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland than they are in England, and it is well known that these diseases are associated with a poor diet that is high in saturated fats and salt and low in fibre, fruits and vegetables.

The researchers therefore looked at mortality data for coronary heart disease, stroke, and 10 cancers associated with diet, including those of the gullet, bowel, and stomach, in all four UK countries for the years 2007 to 2009 inclusive.

And they estimated average intake of 10 dietary components, including energy intake, in each of the four countries, drawn from national representative data from the Family Food Survey for the same period.

These data showed that people in Scotland and Northern Ireland consistently ate more saturated fat and salt and fewer fruits and vegetables every day than their English cousins, while the differences between Wales and England were less consistent over the three years.

The authors then calculated what differences in death rates could be expected from population changes in average dietary quality, using the DIETRON model -- a conceptual mathematical model that calculates the impact of food consumption on health outcomes.

Between 2007 and 2009, just under 22,000 more people died in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland from cardiovascular disease and diet related cancers than would be expected if mortality rates were as low as in England, with most of the difference (mortality gap) accounted for by deaths in Scotland.

The application of the DIETRON model showed that more than 6,000 deaths over the three years could have been prevented or delayed in Scotland -- equivalent to 40% of the mortality gap between England and Scotland -- if the population had eaten the average diet in England.

The reduction in the mortality gap was even greater for Wales and Northern Ireland, at 81%. This suggests that other non-dietary risk factors contribute to the mortality gap in Scotland.

Deaths from coronary heart disease accounted for the largest proportion of the mortality gap for all three countries.

In all, more than 11,000 deaths could have been prevented or delayed -- around half of the excess deaths from cardiovascular disease and diet related cancers -- the calculations showed. Differences in total energy intake and fruit and vegetable consumption accounted for most of the variation in death rates.

The authors acknowledge that diet alone cannot close the mortality gap completely, and that the impact of other behavioural risk factors, such as smoking, alcohol, and lack of exercise, also need to be taken into account.

But they conclude: "Diet has a substantial impact on geographical variations in mortality from coronary heart disease, stroke and various cancers within the UK."

And they suggest that "fat taxes" which have been mooted as a way of nudging people into healthier behaviours, might only work if they are paired with subsidies for fruit and vegetables.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...1103081438.htm

[Occident]

Its a shame the study didnt include an analysis of the differences between the regions of England. I bet you'll find much of the north of England isn't so different to Scotland.

[Treffie]

Its a shame the study didnt include an analysis of the differences between the regions of England. I bet you'll find much of the north of England isn't so different to Scotland.

That's true. The English don't exactly have a healthy diet either.

[Tabiti]

Nothing bad in saturated fat! Even it is the most propriate fat for cooking since it is quite more stable. The rest are lies in favour of the margarine industry.

[Gordon Bennett]

This isn't a national thing, it's a class thing. England has a larger middle class (by percentage of population) than Wales or Scotland. As others here have suggested, most of England's middle class live in the south.

The real problem in this kingdom (England as much as anywhere else) is the bad diet ofthe poor. 'Mum's gone to Iceland' is the problem. Mum should go to the market and buy some fresh vegetables for a change. Yes, it might cost a little more, but so what? Buy just one less scratch card each week and you can swing it.

[Beorn]

This isn't a national thing, it's a class thing. England has a larger middle class (by percentage of population) than Wales or Scotland. As others here have suggested, most of England's middle class live in the south.

Are you suggesting it more a cultural or economic 'class thing'? I believe it to be more a cultural thing considering the greater wealth of the British as a whole.

[Gordon Bennett]

Are you suggesting it more a cultural or economic 'class thing'? I believe it to be more a cultural thing considering the greater wealth of the British as a whole.

It's a bit of both. There certainly are cultural differences between the classes. Coming from a working-class background, I know that plenty of working-class people could afford better quality food if they wanted it. They just don't.
But there is an economic factor too. The shit that Iceland and Farmfoods peddle is just dirt cheap.