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Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique logoLink to Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique
. 2008 Jul 1;99(4):301–306. doi: 10.1007/BF03403760

Overweight Nova Scotia Children and Youth

The Roles of Household Income and Adherence to Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating

Meredith St John 114, Matthew Durant 114, Phil D Campagna 214, Laurene A Rehman 214, Angela M Thompson 314, Laurie A Wadsworth 414, René J L Murphy 514,✉
PMCID: PMC6976246  PMID: 18767276

Abstract

Objective

Poor diet quality has been observed in Nova Scotia children and youth, characterized by low intake from the traditional four food groups and a high intake from the Other Foods category. In this study, we addressed how household income and adherence to Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating influenced weight status category in Nova Scotia children and youth.

Methods

During the 2005–06 school year, data were collected from 2,296 students and their parents, across Nova Scotia. Questionnaires and anthropometric measurements were obtained from grades 3, 7 and 11 students. The grade 3 students were excluded from the dietary intake assessment. The information collected from the online 24-hour food recalls and food frequency questionnaires were analyzed for adherence to Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating recommendations. A general linear model was employed to examine the relationships between household income, food group and weight status category.

Results

Overall adherence to Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating was low among grades 7 and 11 students. Fewer servings from Grain Products, Milk Products and Vegetables and Fruit were observed in at risk of overweight and overweight students. At risk of overweight and overweight were significantly related to lower household income in grades 3 and 11. Our results show that the rates of overweight in Nova Scotia students are double those reported by the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey.

Conclusion

Household income and dietary intake play significant roles in weight status among Nova Scotia children and youth.

Key words: Child nutrition sciences, overweight, income

Footnotes

Sources of Funding: This undergraduate honours thesis research was funded by the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection, Nova Scotia Department of Education, and Acadia University Research & Graduate Studies.

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