The environment children grow up in can have a lasting impact on their health, wellbeing and the choices they make later in life, according to mental health expert Mary McClung.
Speaking about the links between deprivation, diet and healthy living, McClung said children growing up with limited access to resources can face very different circumstances from those raised in more affluent households.
She explained that experiences during childhood, including exposure to adverse events and food scarcity, can influence how the brain develops and how people respond to decisions.
McClung believes this can make it harder for those growing up in deprived communities to prioritise long-term health over immediate needs.
She said: “If someone is in a deprived area, has less access to resources, scarcity to food, then their brain develops in a different way.
“Their brain is going to take the shortest route.”
She used the example of a young person having to choose between making a decision that could benefit their health in the future or opting for fast food in the moment.
McClung said those facing greater challenges and fewer resources may be more likely to prioritise the immediate option.
She added: “If they have to make a decision around, do I look 20 years down the line and make the right choice for me now, or do I go for the fast food? They’re going for the fast food every single time.”
Her comments highlight the wider challenges surrounding healthy living and suggest that improving health outcomes requires more than simply encouraging people to make better choices.
Access to nutritious food, financial circumstances and the environment in which children grow up all play a part in shaping their relationship with health and wellbeing.
The discussion raises questions about how communities can better support children and families facing deprivation, and ensure healthier choices are accessible to everyone.