As 1 in 5 families struggle with food insecurity and ‘alarming health inequalities’ in children’s diets persist across Scotland, renewed calls have come for the Scottish government to improve access to healthy food, if it is to make “real progress” towards halving childhood obesity by 2030.

The Dietary Intake in Scotland’s Children (DISH) survey, paints a concerning picture of the dietary habits of children and young people aged 2 to 15 in Scotland.

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) say this is the first significant survey of children and young people in Scotland in the last 15 years and reveals ‘alarming health inequalities’.

Food insecurity was found to impact nearly 1 in 5 families, with young people in the most deprived areas of Scotland seven times more likely to experience food insecurity.

The survey, which involved 1,700 participants across Scotland, also found most children fall short of recommendations for essential nutrients and fibre while exceeding maximum guidelines when it comes to high sugar, salt and saturated fat foods.

Heather Kelman, Chair of FSS, said the “extremely concerning” findings are sadly not surprising, serving as a reminder of the very real consequences of Scotland’s poor diet, adding:

“A key question now is how many ‘wake up calls’ do we need before we start to seriously address this and take immediate action to improve our food environment and make it easier for families to access affordable, healthy food.

“Foods and drinks high in fats, sugar and salt account for an unhealthy amount of our children’s diets.

“Urgent action is needed by industry and government to shift the dial if we are to make real progress towards the Scottish government’s ambition to halve childhood obesity by 2030.

“Without this, we risk jeopardising the health of future generations growing up in Scotland.”

“Safeguarding the health of future generations”

Alana McDonald, Senior Public Health Nutritionist at FSS, said the findings point to “critical” areas that need to be addressed by collaboration across sectors:

“The food industry, policymakers and investors all have a major role to play in improving our diet and reducing diet-related inequalities, and the scale and urgency of the changes needed will require collaboration across all parties.  

“Creating a healthier food environment by ensuring affordable, nutritious options are always available where we live, work, and learn is the most effective way to reduce inequalities, promote longer, healthier lives, and safeguard the health of future generations.”

This comes after a collaboration of public health leaders called for action to improve healthy food availability and opportunities for exercise within Scotland’s communities.

Only 8% of children meet the recommended Scottish dietary goal for ‘free’ sugars – sugars added to food and drinks, and those contained within honey, syrup, and fruit juice.

Young people aged 11-15 were found to consume significantly higher amounts of these sugars than children aged 2-10 years.

Scotland’s Public Health Minister Jenni Minto told healthandcare.scot that the average amount of non-diet soft drinks consumed by children has “markedly decreased” and work is underway in schools:

“We have strengthened requirements to provide a balanced and nutritious diet for children in school and are encouraged that more are consuming the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.”

Despite this, the DISH report found children in the most deprived areas consume less fruit and vegetables and were less likely to meet fibre goals than those in more wealthy areas.

Adolescents tended to have less healthy diets than younger children overall, with higher energy density foods, lower fibre intake, and fewer portions of fruit and vegetables.

Professor Lindsay Jaacks from the University of Edinburgh said:

“There are many opportunities for the food industry to support children and young people in meeting dietary goals, especially by reducing the sugar and salt content of commonly consumed foods like breakfast cereals, bread and yoghurts.”

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