A new report has revealed that the North of England has some of the poorest diets in the country, putting the population at risk of conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure and other preventable diseases.
The poor diets in the North has been linked to food insecurity and chronic illness.
The report, published by the Northern Health Science Alliance's Nutrition North network in collaboration with University of York, paints a stark picture of the state of nutrition in the North of England, and calls for urgent support and investment to address this reversible trend.
Professor Maria Bryant, Professor of Public Health and Diet at University of York and a member of Nutrition North, said: "This analysis makes it clear that the North of England is facing a crisis of diet-related illness, with poor diets linked to the country's highest rates of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and food insecurity. Families are under increasing pressure and too many children are growing up without consistent access to healthy food."
Lower nutrients
The analysis shows that people in the north of the country generally have a lower intake of nutrients such as calcium, fibre, vegetables, and healthy fatty acids than the national average, and spend less on household food per week than the rest of England.
The North also has higher levels of adult obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and greater mortality rates from preventable cancer, and preventable cardiovascular and liver diseases.The authors point to a number of influencing factors, including higher food insecurity, lack of access to healthy foods, and the high numbers of fast food outlets located in the North.
The report also highlights that the northern regions have the highest levels of adult obesity in the country with 32.2% in the North East, 29.3% in the North West, and 28.9% in Yorkshire and the Humber, as well as the highest mortality rates in the country for preventable cancer, preventable cardiovascular disease, and preventable liver disease.
Targeted recommendations
The authors are calling for policymakers to adopt a range of targeted recommendations to address this issue. These include strategies to improve access to healthy food in the North and prevent food insecurity, the establishment of a skilled nutritionist workforce in the North, improved collection of regional-level diet data, and measures to ensure families have enough income to meet their basic needs.
Professor Bryant said: "What we urgently need is a comprehensive approach, from supporting expectant mothers through to strengthening school meals and welfare support, to ensure every child can access nutritious food. This report provides evidence-led solutions that policymakers must act on now to level the health playing field across the country."
The researchers say that addressing these challenges will not just transform outcomes for northern communities, but also reduce the strain on the UK health system. The NHS is estimated to spend over £11.4 billion a year treating and managing obesity alone, with the wider social costs estimated at £74.3 billion annually.
Policymakers are also urged to ensure that families have an adequate and secure income to meet basic needs, by removing the two-child benefit cap, expanding investment in early years services, and making sure children receive support regardless of family size.
Further information:
The report has been produced by the Northern Health Science Alliance's Nutrition North network and Health Equity North. The NHSA-established Nutrition North network is a coalition of nutrition scientists and practitioners across the North of England.
The network involves researching various aspects of nutrition – from basic metabolic science to policy and implementation.
Read the full report: 'Food, Health and Nutrition in the North of England: Inequalities and Opportunities'.
