Alison M. Smith|Katrine I. Baghurst
Public health implications of dietary differences between social status and occupational category groups.
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation|Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
social status gradient chronic disease mortality australia study aimed establish whether substantial differences among socioeconomically defined groups respect food choice nutrient intake context risk nutrition related chronic diseasescross sectional data collected randomly selected population sample 1500 urban australian adults data collected postal questionnaire included assessment dietary intake questions sociodemographic details three measures social position collected occupation educational status income status occupation interpreted continuous prestige scale also categorical occupational groupingsthe study achieved 70 response rate higher social status generally associated healthier dietary intakes lower fat refined sugar densities higher fibre densities also higher alcohol density differences found salt polyunsaturated fat protein complex carbohydrate densities across groups food intake differences also found occupational status groups upper social groups tending consume wholegrain cereal foods low fat milk fruit less refined cereal foods full cream milk fried meat meat products discretionary sugar also cheese meat dishesalthough study show statistically significant differences across social status groups relation nutrient food intakes differences small compared disparity intakes groups recommended patterns intake appear great enough major explanatory variable differences disease risk across groups