People living in Australia's most relatively socioeconomically disadvantaged areas purchase more sugar-sweetened beverages and fewer fruits and vegetables, according to new data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Linda Fardell, ABS head of Health Statistics, said: 'Shoppers in the most disadvantaged 20 per cent of Australia bought 26 per cent more sugar-sweetened drinks than the national average. In contrast, shoppers in the least disadvantaged areas bought 29 per cent less sugar-sweetened drinks than the national average.'
Added sugars accounted for a larger share of dietary energy in more disadvantaged areas, contributing 13 per cent of total dietary energy in the most disadvantaged quintile compared with 10 per cent in the least disadvantaged quintile.
At the same time, fruit and vegetable consumption was substantially higher in more advantaged areas.
'Purchases of fruit and vegetables were 30 to 33 per cent higher in the least disadvantaged areas compared with the most disadvantaged,' Ms Fardell said.
The data also revealed differences in the types of dairy products purchased. While overall dairy consumption was similar across socioeconomic groups, the composition varied.
Dairy milk consumption was higher in the most disadvantaged areas, while yoghurt, cheese and dairy milk substitutes were more commonly purchased in the least disadvantaged areas. Consumption of dairy milk substitutes was 67 per cent higher in the least disadvantaged quintile than in the most disadvantaged quintile.
Distinct patterns by Remoteness Areas were also observed, particularly for non-alcoholic beverages.
'Bottled water consumption was 74 per cent higher in very remote areas than in major cities and soft drink consumption was 54 per cent higher for that same group,' Ms Fardell said.
