One of the aims of the Scottish Health Equity Research Unit is to produce reactive statistical / research briefings that summarise relevant data releases. Designed to improve the accessibility and visibility of important statistical findings, these briefings provide concise, easy-to-understand round-ups that highlight key insights from recent publications. By demystifying complex statistics, methodologies, and data limitations, the unit aims to make this information more approachable for a wider audience.
This reactive stats briefing examines Public Health Scotland’s annual report on the weight status of Primary 1 children, emphasising the profound influence of socio-economic factors, with higher obesity risks among children in the most deprived areas. Addressing this challenge requires tackling root causes such as food insecurity, enhancing access to nutritious food, and accounting for the role of commercial determinants in shaping health outcomes.
Authors
David is a Senior Knowledge Exchange Fellow at the Fraser of Allander Institute. Previously, he worked in a range of analytical positions across the public sector, primarily as a statistician.
Fiona McHardy
Fiona McHardy is Research and Information manager and is responsible for the overall management and delivery of all research programmes at The Poverty Alliance.