Knowledge of Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating and Serving Size Awareness

Knowledge of Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating and Serving Size Awareness Understanding Healthy Lifestyles: Measuring & Monitoring Behavioural Risk Factors September 25-27, 2005 Dar Malaviarachchi, MSc Cynthia Colapinto, MSc, RD

Knowledge of Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating and Serving Size Awareness Acknowledgements: Statistics Canada Kristen Godin

Introduction • Obesity is an issue affecting many Canadians • Poor diet and physical inactivity are factors • 39% of Sudbury residents are overweight compared to 33% of Ontario residents

Objectives • To determine residents’ perceptions of recommended serving sizes • To determine Sudbury residents’ fast food eating habits • To determine Sudbury residents’ awareness/knowledge of Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating (CFGHE)

Background & Design • Statistics Canada Survey • “Food Portion Awareness” questionnaire developed • “Portion size” vs. “Serving size” • Carried out as part of a Statistics Canada training program • Survey Skills Development Course (SSDC-90)

Background & Design • Target population • Private households in the urban core • Individuals 18 or older residing in household year round • Sudbury residents of low, middle, and high income households

Background & Design • Sample Design • Stratified, multistage probability sample of 600 private dwellings, selected from 45,000 • Sample Size • 409 interviews were granted

Results • Self-perceived health status • Awareness/Knowledge of CFGHE • Knowledge of serving size • Fast food eating habits • Availability of fitness equipment and fitness facility membership

Residents Self-PerceivedHealth Status • Residents with higher self-perceived health status include: • Women • Highly educated • Higher income 7 27 45 19 19 31 33 14 6 21 35 27 11

Awareness/Knowledge of CFGHE • 82% of Sudbury residents are aware of CFGHE • Women and those with higher incomes are more aware of CFGHE than men and those with lower incomes • Almost 50% of residents correctly identified the number of food groups • 61% of women and 41% of men identified the correct number of daily servings of fruits/vegetables

Awareness/Knowledge of CFGHE by Level of Education 92 91 77 60 62 56 54 48 46 43 40 39 32 23 9 8

Awareness of Serving Size • Using visual aids, residents were asked to identify the correct serving sizes of 9 foods • Only 50% of residents correctly identified at least 5 of the 9 serving sizes • Men and youth often overestimated serving sizes

Correct Serving Sizes 83 81 68 61 58 58 51 50 51 46 48 46 41 45 42 40 30 23

Fast Food Eating Habits • Consumed fast food at least once per week • 37% of residents • 40% of residents with lower income • 45% of men compared to 29% of women 20 37 47 55

Ordering “Combo” Meals • Of those who consumed fast food at least once per week • 70% of men and 70% of youth ordered “combo” meals most of the time 70 39 34 26 21 9

Fitness Equipment or Facility Memberships • 40% of households do not have exercise equipment • 36% of households have at least one resident with a fitness facility membership 73 64 50 47 34 27

Summary • Residents with higher income, higher education and women had higher self-rated health • Women and residents with a higher education tend to be more aware and knowledgeable of CFGHE • Men and youth often overestimated serving sizes • Individuals of younger age groups are more likely to eat fast food at least once per week

Objectives of the Sudbury & District Health Unit’s Nutrition Physical Activity Action Team (NPAAT) • To increase the number of people who adhere to CFGHE • To increase the number of people who are physically active

Balanced Approach Philosophy • Promotes balance among the many aspects that influence health, including physical, emotional, mental and spiritual factors • Balanced approach initiatives: • Healthy Measures for Adults • Go Girls!

Working With the Community • Education campaigns • Community events • Mass media campaigns • Telephone advice • Advocacy initiatives • Policy development • Environmental supports • Community partnerships

Nutrition Expedition Food Security Eat Smart! Student Meal Programs Nutrition Month Activities (March) Walk this Way Summer Active Obesity Steering Committee and Working Group Nutrition and Physical Activity Initiatives

Community Partnerships • Healthy People for a Healthy Tomorrow! forum held in June 2004 • Goal: community input in order to develop a framework for community action on obesity prevention • Obesity steering committee and working group formed

Obesity Steering Committee and Working Group • Committed to reducing the incidence and impact of obesity through working collaboratively with diverse communities and populations in the Sudbury district and Manitoulin district areas • Coordinate and set in motion the action plan

Obesity Steering Committee and Working Group • Developing communication tools and strategies to educate and keep key stakeholders informed of current trends and research on the prevention of obesity • Enhancing community mobilization in the practice of healthy eating, physical activity, and positive self esteem • Assisting community stakeholders with the implementation of strategies identified in the Action Plan

Action Plan • Stemmed from the action priority recommendations put forward by the discussion groups at the forum • Contains 10 action priorities • Proposed activities are listed under each action priority • Key stakeholders will be identified for each activity, or group of activities • Long-term and short-term timelines will be mapped out

Contact Information: Dar Malaviarachchi, Epidemiologist Phone: (705) 522-9200, Ext.256 Email: malaviarachchid@sdhu.com Cynthia Colapinto, Public Health Nutritionist Phone: (705) 522-9200, Ext.403 Email: colapintoc@sdhu.com Sudbury & District Health Unit 1300 Paris Street, Sudbury, ON, P3E 3A3

Knowledge of Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating and Serving Size Awareness