LE3 .A278 2007

2007

Durant, Matthew
Murphy, René

Acadia University

Bachelor of Science

Honours

Nutrition

Nutrition & Dietetics

Firstly, in chapter 1, the prevalence rates of childhood overweight and obesity are presented. These conditions lead to significant health complications and their rates have been increasing in Nova Scotia youth since the late 1970s. Social determinants of health, specifically income, and appropriate dietary intake are central to proper growth and development in children; their roles in the aetiology of overweight and obesity are reviewed. To address these issues, in chapter 2, we report results from a study exploring the roles of household income and weight status category in children’s adherence to Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating. Data were collected from 2053 grade 3, 7 and 11 students and their parents across Nova Scotia. The results highlight that the rates of obesity in Nova Scotia students are double those reported by the 2004 Canadian Community Healthy Survey. Furthermore, among grade 7 and 11 students adherence to Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating was poor. These results also confirm that lower household income is significantly related to overweight and obesity. Household income is playing a significant role in weight status and dietary intake among Nova Scotia children and youth and these findings may be useful in shaping public policy.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:520