Overweight Nova Scotia children and youth: the roles of household income and adherence to Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating.

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.