| Obesity is a rapidly growing health care issue. According to Statistics Canada, one-third of Canadian children age 2 to 11, were overweight in 1998/1999.; A complex and interrelated set of factors are responsible for the rising obesity epidemic. Expanding portion sizes are one factor that may contribute to the increase in childhood obesity. The purpose of this research project was to assess the portion size that children in Nova Scotia usually eat of french fries, meats, cooked vegetables and potato chips. The association of the portion size selected was analyzed in relation to body mass index (BMI), energy intake and diet quality. This research was nested in the 2003 Children's Lifestyle and School-performance Study (CLASS).; Results showed that 62.7% of all participants reported significantly larger portions of french fries than the standard. For meat this was 77.7% and for chips 77.7%. Smaller portion sizes of cooked vegetables were reported, 47.4%. A number of factors were found to determine portion size selection. Portion size varied across gender and socioeconomic groups and was positively associated with frequency of consumption. Obese children reported larger portions of vegetables but not of other foods. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
