Abstract
Background
Poor dietary habits may increase risk for obesity and chronic diseases among Canadian
adolescents.
Objectives
The aims of the present study were to: (a) establish the patterns of fruit and vegetable
intake by Canadian adolescents, and (b) identify the impact of sociodemographic factors—including
age, household income, household education, ethnicity, living arrangement, and location—on
the pattern of fruit and vegetable intake in this population.
Design
This is a cross-sectional study using the data from the Canadian Community Health
Survey, Cycle 2.1, Public Use File. The survey used questions similar to a food frequency
questionnaire.
Methods
Total fruit and vegetable intake of 18,524 Canadian adolescents (12 to 19 years old)
was cross-tabulated between two age groups (12 to 14 years old [n=7,410] and 15 to
19 years old [n=11,114]) by sex, level of household education, total household income,
ethnicity, living arrangement, and geographical location.
Results
The data revealed that a 38.3% of Canadian adolescents in this study consumed fruits
and vegetables five to 10 times per day; fewer older adolescents (15- to 19-year-olds)
reported eating fruits and vegetables at that frequency as compared with the younger
subgroup (12- to 14-year-olds) (P<0.001). Household education and income independently had a significant (P<0.001) positive impact on fruit and vegetable consumption. Females reported a significantly
(P<0.05) higher frequency of intake than did males. Adolescents living in homes with
only one parent reported a significantly (P<0.005) lower frequency of intake, as compared with adolescents living with two parents.
Conclusions
These results may help to identify adolescent groups at risk for poor eating habits
and support the implementation of programs to encourage higher fruit and vegetable
intakes.
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Biography
N. D. Riediger is a master of science student and M. H. Moghadasian is an associate professor, Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba and Canadian Centre for Agri-food Research in Medicine, St Boniface Hospital Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Biography
S. Shooshtari is an assistant professor, Department of Family Social Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 28, 2007
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 American Dietetic Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
