Joyce Slater1, Bhanu Pilli2, Aynslie Hinds3, Alan Katz3,4, Marcelo L Urquia3, Julianne Sanguins5, Chris Green6, Jaime Cidro7, Dan Chateau8, Nathan Nickel3. 1. Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada. joyce.slater@umanitoba.ca. 2. Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada. 3. Department of Community Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0W3, Canada. 4. Department of Family Medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0W2, Canada. 5. Manitoba Metis Federation, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 0J7, Canada. 6. Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 1E2, Canada. 7. Department of Anthropology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 2E9, Canada. 8. Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Good nutrition and access to healthy foods are essential for child growth and development. However, there are concerns that Canadian children do not have a healthy diet, which may be related to dietary choices as well as lack of access to healthy foods. The FANS (Food and Nutrition Security for Children and Youth) study examined the nutrition and food security status of youth in the province of Manitoba, Canada. This paper describes methods, dietary intakes, and body mass index for the FANS study. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1587 Manitoba grade nine students who completed a self-administered web-based survey. Data was collected on demographic characteristics, dietary intake (24-h recall), food behaviors, food security, and self-report health indicators. Dietary data was compared to national dietary guidelines (Dietary Reference Intakes and Canada's Food Guide). Mean and median nutrient and food group intakes were calculated with corresponding measures of variability. Chi-square tests compared percentage of respondents not meeting key nutrients and food groups. Significant differences in percentage of total servings for each food group were determined by a Kruskal-Wallis test, and differences between different caloric groups were assessed using Dunn's test for post-hoc comparisons. RESULTS: Half of study respondents were female (50.5%). Median energy intake was higher in males (2281 kcal) compared with females (1662 kcal), with macronutrient distribution of 52%, 16%, and 32% for carbohydrates, protein, and fats respectively. Most participants consumed inadequate fibre (94%), vitamin D (90%), and calcium (73%), while median sodium intakes exceeded recommendations for males but not females. A majority of participants did not meet Health Canada's recommendations for food group servings: Vegetables and Fruit (93%), Milk and Alternatives (74%), Meat and Alternatives (57%) and Grain Products (43%). Other Foods, including sugar sweetened beverages and juice, were consumed by most participants. Higher energy consumers had a greater proportion of food servings coming from Other Foods. 72.1% of students were classified as having a healthy weight and 25% were classified as overweight or obese. CONCLUSION: Poor dietary intakes and body mass index values indicate an urgent need for policy and program strategies to support healthy eating habits and food awareness in Manitoba youth.
BACKGROUND: Good nutrition and access to healthy foods are essential for child growth and development. However, there are concerns that Canadian children do not have a healthy diet, which may be related to dietary choices as well as lack of access to healthy foods. The FANS (Food and Nutrition Security for Children and Youth) study examined the nutrition and food security status of youth in the province of Manitoba, Canada. This paper describes methods, dietary intakes, and body mass index for the FANS study. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1587 Manitoba grade nine students who completed a self-administered web-based survey. Data was collected on demographic characteristics, dietary intake (24-h recall), food behaviors, food security, and self-report health indicators. Dietary data was compared to national dietary guidelines (Dietary Reference Intakes and Canada's Food Guide). Mean and median nutrient and food group intakes were calculated with corresponding measures of variability. Chi-square tests compared percentage of respondents not meeting key nutrients and food groups. Significant differences in percentage of total servings for each food group were determined by a Kruskal-Wallis test, and differences between different caloric groups were assessed using Dunn's test for post-hoc comparisons. RESULTS: Half of study respondents were female (50.5%). Median energy intake was higher in males (2281 kcal) compared with females (1662 kcal), with macronutrient distribution of 52%, 16%, and 32% for carbohydrates, protein, and fats respectively. Most participants consumed inadequate fibre (94%), vitamin D (90%), and calcium (73%), while median sodium intakes exceeded recommendations for males but not females. A majority of participants did not meet Health Canada's recommendations for food group servings: Vegetables and Fruit (93%), Milk and Alternatives (74%), Meat and Alternatives (57%) and Grain Products (43%). Other Foods, including sugar sweetened beverages and juice, were consumed by most participants. Higher energy consumers had a greater proportion of food servings coming from Other Foods. 72.1% of students were classified as having a healthy weight and 25% were classified as overweight or obese. CONCLUSION: Poor dietary intakes and body mass index values indicate an urgent need for policy and program strategies to support healthy eating habits and food awareness in Manitoba youth.
Authors: Laurie A Wadsworth; Tara-Leigh McHugh; Angela M Thompson; Phillip D Campagna; Matthew A Durant; René J L Murphy; Laurene A Rehman Journal: Can J Diet Pract Res Date: 2012 Impact factor: 0.940