Trajectories of Eating Behaviours During Adolescence Among Canadian Youth

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the presence of sub-groups of boys and girls presenting different trajectories of multiple eating behaviours (i.e., consumption of vegetables and fruits, sugary beverages, breakfast and fast food) throughout adolescence. MethodsData from seven cycles of the MATCH study, which followed 744 participants from the age of 11 to 18 years old, were included. At each cycle, participants reported how often they ate breakfast and consumed vegetables and fruits, sugary beverages and fast foods on a weekly basis. Trajectories of eating behaviours over a 7-year period were identified using group-based multi-trajectory modeling. ResultsChanges in eating behaviours occurred at roughly 13–14 years of age for both genders. For girls, three different groups were identified, namely ‘stable food intake with decline in daily breakfast consumption’ (39.9%), ‘moderate food intake and declining of overall eating behaviours’ (38.0%), and ‘stable high food intake’ (22.1%). For boys, five different groups were identified, namely ‘low food intake with stable daily breakfast consumption’ (27.3%), ‘breakfast skippers and increasing fast food intake’ (27.1%), ‘low food intake with decline in daily breakfast consumption’ (23.9%), ‘high food intake with worsening of eating behaviours’ (13.3%), and ‘average food intake with consistently high breakfast consumption’ (8.4%). ConclusionsAmong boys and girls, eating behaviours evolve through various distinct trajectories during adolescence. No group of adolescents presented eating trajectories that could be described as healthy and most are characterised by a worsening of eating behaviours throughout adolescence. To promote healthier eating behaviours during adolescence, gender-specific approaches and interventions are needed in addition to general public health messages. Funding SourcesThe MATCH study is supported by the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation (20,130,729), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (435-2016-0888), and Sport Canada through the joint Sport Participation Research Initiative (862-2010-0001 and 862-2014-0002).