Diet

8.30 The 2001 Health Survey for England found that people in the South West are marginally more likely to have healthy eating habits than England as a whole: 25% of men and 29% of women in the South West consumed the recommended 5 portions of fruit and  vegetables a day (compared to 24% and 28% respectively for men and women in England).

Figure 8.4 Consumption of Fruit and Vegetables by Gender 2001, percentage of adults consuming 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day) (Popup full image) 
Consumption of Fruit and Vegetables by Gender 2001, percentage of adults consuming 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day)

8.31 Whilst results from the 2001 survey are not available at the sub-regional level, the survey shows that consumption of fruit and vegetables varies considerably by income level and deprivation. Consumption is likely to display similar sub-regional patterns to indicators of deprivation such as income and education.

8.32 Fruit and vegetables play a greater part in the nation’s diet. Those eating a minimum of five portions of fruit and vegetables a day increased from 22% to 24% for men and 25% to 27% for women between 2001 and 2004 (Health Survey for England 2004). Between 2001 (when monitoring started) and 2004, there were no changes in mean portions of fruit and vegetables consumed by children: boys consumed between 2.4 to 2.7 portions per day while girls consumed between 2.6 and 2.7 portions per day. There were no clear trends in the proportion of children in different consumption bands (Health Survey for England).