BACKGROUND: Poor dietary habits may increase risk for obesity and chronic diseases among Canadian adolescents. OBJECTIVES: The aims of the present study were to: (a) establish the patterns of fruit and vegetable intake by Canadian adolescents, and (b) identify the impact of sociodemographic factors-including age, household income, household education, ethnicity, living arrangement, and location-on the pattern of fruit and vegetable intake in this population. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study using the data from the Canadian Community Health Survey, Cycle 2.1, Public Use File. The survey used questions similar to a food frequency questionnaire. METHODS: Total fruit and vegetable intake of 18,524 Canadian adolescents (12 to 19 years old) was cross-tabulated between two age groups (12 to 14 years old [n=7,410] and 15 to 19 years old [n=11,114]) by sex, level of household education, total household income, ethnicity, living arrangement, and geographical location. RESULTS: The data revealed that a 38.3% of Canadian adolescents in this study consumed fruits and vegetables five to 10 times per day; fewer older adolescents (15- to 19-year-olds) reported eating fruits and vegetables at that frequency as compared with the younger subgroup (12- to 14-year-olds) (P<0.001). Household education and income independently had a significant (P<0.001) positive impact on fruit and vegetable consumption. Females reported a significantly (P<0.05) higher frequency of intake than did males. Adolescents living in homes with only one parent reported a significantly (P<0.005) lower frequency of intake, as compared with adolescents living with two parents. CONCLUSIONS: These results may help to identify adolescent groups at risk for poor eating habits and support the implementation of programs to encourage higher fruit and vegetable intakes.
BACKGROUND: Poor dietary habits may increase risk for obesity and chronic diseases among Canadian adolescents. OBJECTIVES: The aims of the present study were to: (a) establish the patterns of fruit and vegetable intake by Canadian adolescents, and (b) identify the impact of sociodemographic factors-including age, household income, household education, ethnicity, living arrangement, and location-on the pattern of fruit and vegetable intake in this population. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study using the data from the Canadian Community Health Survey, Cycle 2.1, Public Use File. The survey used questions similar to a food frequency questionnaire. METHODS: Total fruit and vegetable intake of 18,524 Canadian adolescents (12 to 19 years old) was cross-tabulated between two age groups (12 to 14 years old [n=7,410] and 15 to 19 years old [n=11,114]) by sex, level of household education, total household income, ethnicity, living arrangement, and geographical location. RESULTS: The data revealed that a 38.3% of Canadian adolescents in this study consumed fruits and vegetables five to 10 times per day; fewer older adolescents (15- to 19-year-olds) reported eating fruits and vegetables at that frequency as compared with the younger subgroup (12- to 14-year-olds) (P<0.001). Household education and income independently had a significant (P<0.001) positive impact on fruit and vegetable consumption. Females reported a significantly (P<0.05) higher frequency of intake than did males. Adolescents living in homes with only one parent reported a significantly (P<0.005) lower frequency of intake, as compared with adolescents living with two parents. CONCLUSIONS: These results may help to identify adolescent groups at risk for poor eating habits and support the implementation of programs to encourage higher fruit and vegetable intakes.
Authors: N Schmeisser; D I Conway; P A McKinney; A D McMahon; H Pohlabeln; M Marron; S Benhamou; C Bouchardy; G J Macfarlane; T V Macfarlane; P Lagiou; A Lagiou; V Bencko; I Holcátová; F Merletti; L Richiardi; K Kjaerheim; A Agudo; R Talamini; J Polesel; C Canova; L Simonato; R Lowry; A Znaor; C Healy; B E McCarten; M Hashibe; P Brennan; W Ahrens Journal: Eur J Epidemiol Date: 2010-02-09 Impact factor: 8.082
Authors: Meghan R Longacre; Keith M Drake; Linda J Titus; Karen E Peterson; Michael L Beach; Gail Langeloh; Kristy Hendricks; Madeline A Dalton Journal: Prev Med Date: 2014-10-16 Impact factor: 4.018
Authors: Walid El Ansari; Christiane Stock; Sherrill Snelgrove; Xiaoling Hu; Sian Parke; Shân Davies; Jill John; Hamed Adetunji; Mary Stoate; Pat Deeny; Ceri Phillips; Andi Mabhala Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2011-04-27 Impact factor: 3.390