Health Inequality Sociology

Unequal differences in material conditions are one of the primary mechanisms by which inequality is hypothesized to effect unequal distribution of health outcomes such as obesity according to the theories of Marx, Weber and others. Income directly determines the extent of material resources that an individual and family can access and the material circumstances in which an individual or family can live, with direct effects for health over a life time (Galobardes et al 2006). Income is one of the commonly used indicators to measure social inequality with regards because of these features (Galobardes et al 2006). Lynch et al (2000) suggest income is one of the most important factors in determining patterns of health inequality, although contextual factors are important and it
Caraher et al (1998) found that although people in lower social classes were more likely to shop in small shops, the vast majority of people shopped in supermarket with no statistically significant social gradient. Also, access to medium and large store, rather than low deprivation levels as been shown to be most associated with availability of range of healthy food. (Dawson, J et al 2008, Cummins et al 2010). In Glasgow, studies have indicated that the availability and price of foods representing a ‘modest but adequate diet’ were more associated with discount and multiple shops, rather than location. Macdonald et al (2011) study of Glasgow found limited evidence for association between proximity to food retail outlets, dietary patterns, and BMI, providing no evidence for the hypothesis of ‘food deserts’ in the city. An article by one of Macdonald’s (2002) co-authors in fact claims that the discourse on Food Deserts which have attracted the interest of the UK government, is not applicable to UK or Glasgow, specifically, contrasting with the findings in the US (Wrigley