Diet quality, nutrition and physical activity among adolescents: the Web-SPAN (Web-Survey of Physical Activity and Nutrition) project

Abstract

Objective: To assess the overall diet quality of a sample of adolescents living in Alberta, Canada, and evaluate whether diet quality, nutrient intakes, meal behaviours (i.e. meal skipping and consuming meals away from home) and physical activity are related. Design: A cross-sectional study design. Students completed the self-administered Web-Survey of Physical Activity and Nutrition (Web-SPAN). Students were classified as having poor, average or superior diet quality based on Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating (CFGHE). Setting: One hundred and thirty-six schools (37 %) within forty-four public and private school boards (75 %) in Alberta, Canada. Subjects: Grade 7 to 10 Alberta students (n 4936) participated in the school-based research. Results: On average, students met macronutrient requirements; however, micronutrient and fibre intakes were suboptimal. Median CFGHE food group intakes were below recommendations. Those with poor diet quality (42 %) had lower intakes of protein, fibre and low-calorie beverages; higher intakes of carbohydrates, fat and Other Foods (e.g. foods containing mostly sugar, high-salt/fat foods, high-calorie beverages, low-calorie beverages and high-sugar/fat foods); a lower frequency of consuming breakfast and a higher frequency of consuming meals away from home; and a lower level of physical activity when compared with students with either average or superior diet quality. Conclusions: Alberta adolescents were not meeting minimum CFGHE recommendations, and thus had suboptimal intakes and poor diet quality. Suboptimal nutritional intakes, meal behaviours and physical inactivity were all related to poor diet quality and reflect the need to target these health behaviours in order to improve diet quality and overall health and wellness.

Dietary intake and prospective changes in cardiometabolic risk factors in children and youth

“…All students provided assent, and their parents or guardians provided signed informed consent. Participants completed a web-based 24-hour recall of dietary intake (Web-SPAN) (Storey et al 2009), had measures of CM risk factors, and were given accelerometers to wear for 7 days. Because of the complex school schedules and limited resources, challenges with data collection scheduling did not allow all students to complete all measures at each of the baseline and follow-up visits.…”

“…The tool provides product images for more than 500 food items to assist in the judgment of portion sizes. It also provides cues for frequently missed food items such as toppings and beverages (Hanning et al 2009;Storey et al 2009 Canada 2011). Other food components including total fat, added sugar, fibre, and sodium intake were expressed in grams.…”

Beverages and snacks available in vending machines from a subset of Ontario secondary schools: Do offerings align with provincial nutrition standards?

“…27 Further, Canadian adolescent girls and boys often do not meet the daily minimum recommended servings of vegetables and fruits and should be encouraged to do so. 28 While juices contribute micronutrients and phytochemicals, their low fibre content and high glycemic index suggest other choices are preferred. The Ministry should encourage the provision of fresh vegetables and fruits as snacks in vending machines; none were identified in the current audit, although some were available in school cafeterias.…”

Compliance with school nutrition policies in Ontario and Alberta: An assessment of secondary school vending machine data from the COMPASS study

“…6 Poor diet in children and adolescents presents itself through high dietary fat and sodium intake; low fibre, protein and lowcalorie beverage intake; low frequency of breakfast consumption; skipping meals and purchasing meals away from home. 7,8 Schools are important settings for health promotion interventions, given the large proportion of waking time youth spend in school, the consumption of at least one meal and several snacks during the school day, and the potential for teachers and staff to model health behaviours. 9 In addition, schools provide access to children and youth from all socioeconomic backgrounds, including those disproportionately affected by obesity and poor nutrition.…”