Associations among the food environment, diet quality and weight status in Cree children in Québec.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship among children's diet quality, weight status and food environment in subarctic Canada.

DESIGN

In the cross-sectional study, children's BMI was calculated, diet quality was assessed using three 24 h dietary recalls and children were asked about their home food environment and source of meals.

SETTING

Two Aboriginal Cree communities in northern Québec.

SUBJECTS

Two hundred and one children in grades 4-6.

RESULTS

The majority (64.2%) of children were overweight (29.9%) or obese (34.3%). Weight status was not associated with reported restaurant meal frequency or the home food environment. The 18% of children who consumed three or more restaurant meals in the three days of recall consumed, on average, 2004 kJ (479 kcal) more energy daily than children consuming no restaurant meals and had higher intakes of fat, saturated fat, Ca and soda. Most foods contributing to energy and dietary fat were energy-dense market foods of low nutritional value such as sweetened beverages and snack foods. Only 68% of children reported often having fruits and vegetables in the home and 98.5% of children consumed less than 5 fruits and vegetables daily. Many children (42.8%) were at risk of Zn inadequacy. Only 19% of children consumed 2 or more servings of milk daily, and the mean intakes of Ca and vitamin D were below the recommended adequate intake. Traditional game meat was consumed infrequently, but contributed significantly to Fe and Zn intake.

CONCLUSIONS

Childhood obesity in subarctic communities prevailed in a food environment typified by high-energy-density commercial foods of low nutritional value.