Vegetable and fruit intakes of on-reserve first nations schoolchildren compared to Canadian averages and current recommendations.

Allison Gates,Michelle Gates,Rhona M Hanning,Leonard J S Tsuji,Ian D Martin,Kelly Skinner

doi:10.3390/ijerph9041379

Abstract

This study investigated, in on-reserve First Nations (FN) youth in Ontario, Canada, the following: (a) the intakes of vegetable and fruit, “other” foods and relevant nutrients as compared to current recommendations and national averages, (b) current prevalence rates of overweight and obesity and (c) the relationship between latitude and dietary intakes. Twenty-four-hour diet recalls were collected via the Waterloo Web-Based Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (WEB-Q) (n = 443). Heights and weights of participants were self reported using measured values and Body Mass Index was categorized using the International Obesity Task Force cutoffs. Food group and nutrient intakes were compared to current standards, Southern Ontario Food Behaviour data and the Canadian Community Health Survey, Cycle 2.2, using descriptive statistics. Mean vegetable and fruit, fibre and folate intakes were less than current recommendations. Girls aged 14–18 years had mean intakes of vitamin A below current recommendations for this sub-group; for all sub-groups, mean intakes of vegetables and fruit were below Canadian averages. All sub-groups also had intakes of all nutrients and food groups investigated that were less than those observed in non-FN youth from Southern Ontario, with the exception of “other” foods in boys 12–18 years. Prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 31.8% and 19.6%, respectively, exceeding rates in the general population. Dietary intakes did not vary consistently by latitude (n = 248), as revealed by ANOVA. This study provided a unique investigation of the dietary intakes of on-reserve FN youth in Ontario and revealed poor intakes of vegetables and fruit and related nutrients and high intakes of “other” foods. Prevalence rates of overweight and obesity exceed those of the general population.

Highlights

Over the past 25 years, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has risen steadily in Canada, reaching epidemic proportions [1,2]
A total of 443 students from seven First Nations (FN) communities were included in the descriptive analysis of dietary intakes (Table 2)
This study provided a unique investigation into the vegetable and fruit and “other” foods intakes of on-reserve FN youth in Ontario

Summary

Introduction

Over the past 25 years, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has risen steadily in Canada, reaching epidemic proportions [1,2]. Research in American Indian children reported rates twice that of the national average for overweight and three times for obesity as compared to the general population [8]. The most recent RHS (2008/10) indicated that of FN youths age 12–17 years, 29.9% were overweight and 12.8% were obese [9]. These figures were similar to those found in the previous RHS (2002/03) [9]. For Canadian Aboriginal children age 12–17 years living off-reserve, the 2004 prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 20% and 21%, respectively [10]. For Canadian children as a whole (2–17 years), the figures were 18% and

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion