Lisa Kakinami1, Lise Gauvin2, Louise Séguin3, Marie Lambert4, Béatrice Nikiema5, Gilles Paradis6. 1. Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada International Network for Research on Inequalities in Child Health (INRICH), Montréal, Québec, Canada. 2. International Network for Research on Inequalities in Child Health (INRICH), Montréal, Québec, Canada Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada. 3. International Network for Research on Inequalities in Child Health (INRICH), Montréal, Québec, Canada Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada Institut de recherche en santé publique l'université de Montréal (IRSPUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada. 4. Département de Pédiatrie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada. 5. International Network for Research on Inequalities in Child Health (INRICH), Montréal, Québec, Canada Institut de recherche en santé publique l'université de Montréal (IRSPUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada. 6. Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Childhood poverty is associated with poorer food consumption but longitudinal data are limited. The objective was to assess if food consumption differs depending on age (6, 7, 10 and 12 years) and pattern of poverty. METHODS: Participants were from the 1998-2010 'Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development' birth cohort. Poverty was defined as income below the low-income thresholds established by Statistics Canada which adjusts for household size and geographic region. Multiple imputation was used for missing data, and latent class growth analysis identified poverty trajectories. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression assessed the association between poverty and greater consumption of milk, cheese, fruits, vegetables, sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB). RESULTS: Four poverty trajectories were identified: 1 reference category (stable non-poor) and 3 higher-risk categories (stable poor, increasing and decreasing risk). The probability of more frequent consumption was lower among children from stable poor households compared to children from stable non-poor households for fruit (6, 10 and 12 years), milk and vegetables (6, 7, 10 and 12 years) but was higher for SSB (10 and 12 years). Among children from increasing and decreasing poverty households compared to stable non-poor households, the probability of greater consumption of fruits and vegetables was lower and greater consumption of SSB was higher by the age of 12 years. CONCLUSIONS: While experiencing continual exposure to poverty has detrimental effects on food consumption throughout childhood, the association for milk, fruits and vegetables does not differ across age. Intermittent exposure to poverty may also have long-lasting effects. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.
BACKGROUND: Childhood poverty is associated with poorer food consumption but longitudinal data are limited. The objective was to assess if food consumption differs depending on age (6, 7, 10 and 12 years) and pattern of poverty. METHODS:Participants were from the 1998-2010 'Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development' birth cohort. Poverty was defined as income below the low-income thresholds established by Statistics Canada which adjusts for household size and geographic region. Multiple imputation was used for missing data, and latent class growth analysis identified poverty trajectories. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression assessed the association between poverty and greater consumption of milk, cheese, fruits, vegetables, sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB). RESULTS: Four poverty trajectories were identified: 1 reference category (stable non-poor) and 3 higher-risk categories (stable poor, increasing and decreasing risk). The probability of more frequent consumption was lower among children from stable poor households compared to children from stable non-poor households for fruit (6, 10 and 12 years), milk and vegetables (6, 7, 10 and 12 years) but was higher for SSB (10 and 12 years). Among children from increasing and decreasing poverty households compared to stable non-poor households, the probability of greater consumption of fruits and vegetables was lower and greater consumption of SSB was higher by the age of 12 years. CONCLUSIONS: While experiencing continual exposure to poverty has detrimental effects on food consumption throughout childhood, the association for milk, fruits and vegetables does not differ across age. Intermittent exposure to poverty may also have long-lasting effects. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.