What we know
What information do we have about the Eastern Board area?
What is the result of this on our health locally?
Policies
What is happening in the Eastern Board area?
References

“What we eat plays a vital role in determining our state of health. A good diet is essential for maintenance of good physical and oral health…Poor nutrition …. can contribute to coronary heart disease, some cancers, diabetes, raised blood pressure, obesity, asthma, osteoporosis and dental decay…..

Good nutrition particularly during childhood is important as this is a period of rapid growth and development. Research indicates that eating patterns established in the first few years of life influence health during childhood and adulthood.“ (Investing for Health. DHSSPS March 2002).

It is also well known that poverty is a major determinant of ill health and those in lower socio-economic groups are more likely to suffer from diet related diseases.

As part of a healthy lifestyle, the diet recommended for health for most people involves:

	Eating a variety of foods from the four main food groups every day: bread, other cereals and potatoes- meals should be based on starchy foods fruit and vegetables- try to have 5 portions each day meat, fish and alternatives such as beans, peas, lentils, eggs milk and milk products – choose lower fat varieties foods in the fifth food group i.e. those containing fat and/or sugar add extra choice and enjoyment and may be included as part of a healthy diet but should not be eaten in large amounts. Limit the frequency and amount of sugary foods and drinks you take
	Use less salt and salty foods
	Eat the right amount to be a healthy weight
	Keep within recommended safe limits for alcohol : Men: No more than 3-4 units daily Women: No more than 2-3 units daily

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Surveys conducted within Northern Ireland (Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland, 2001) highlight concerns about the dietary habits of children and adults.

Children’s Eating Habits

	Fruit and vegetable intakes are low across all socio-economic groups
	Only 11% of children report to achieve the recommended target of five fruit and vegetables a day
	Snack products high in fat and/or sugar such as biscuits, confectionery, cakes, buns and crisps are eaten frequently by all groups
	38% report to have sugary drinks and 26% sugar free drinks daily

Reported dietary intakes for children from manual households seem to be poorer than those from non-manual households:

	They are almost twice as likely to miss breakfast as other groups, with 8% reporting not to eat breakfast at all during week days
	Intakes of fruit and vegetables are lower, with only 8% of the children reporting to eat the recommended five daily portions of fruit and vegetables, compared to 14% of children from non-manual households
	More than 1 in 5 of these children report to eat vegetables less than once a week or never and more than 1 in 10 eat fruit less than once a week or never
	Intakes of savoury snacks such as crisps and sugary drinks is high, with 51% eating confectionery at least once a day and 45% taking sugary fizzy drinks or squashes daily

Adult Eating Habits

	Approximately one in five report eating the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables daily. 11% don’t eat these on a daily basis and 14% report to eat only one portion daily
	Intakes of foods rich in sugar and/or fat are high with 44% eating biscuits at least once a day; 23% eating savoury snacks at least 3 times a week; 25% and 23% eating confectionery and cakes respectively at least three times a week

Adults from manual households

	Are less aware of healthy eating messages, eat fewer of the foods recommended for health and more of those associated with less healthy eating patterns
	Report confusion about what makes a healthy diet and cost are major factors discouraging healthy eating patterns.

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Nutritional recommendations focus on the overall balance of the diet and emphasise the importance of eating a wide variety of foods from the four main food groups. Within the EHSSB area, there is concern that current dietary habits fall short of these recommendations and there is still much need to improve our eating habits. This is evident, given that diet related diseases including heart disease, stroke, hypertension, and other circulatory diseases, cancers, diabetes, dental decay and obesity remain significant health problems for our population. Indeed the North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey highlighted that 18% of the population were obese and 39% were overweight and that the overall prevalence of obesity had increased by 67% since 1990, up 1.25 fold in women and up 2.5 fold in men.

Obesity is associated with increased risk of a number of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes (type II), gall bladder disease, bone joint disorders and certain cancers. National Audit figures suggest that sustained weight loss of 5-10kg (11-22 LBS) could reduce the chance of fatal heart disease by 9% and could reduce the risk of cancer by more than a third. Hence there is an urgent need to tackle this issue as a priority, both in terms of prevention and treatment. There is also a particular need to target those living in known areas of deprivation within the EHSSB area, since dietary habits appear to be poorer in these areas.

Please click on the relevant section for more information on obesity, and physical activity.

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