Diet quality, physical activity, body weight and health-related quality of life among grade 5 students in Canada.
OBJECTIVE
To assess how diet quality, physical activity and body weight are related to health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among children in the Canadian province of Alberta.


METHODS
In 2008, we surveyed 3421 grade 5 students and their parents from 148 randomly selected schools. Students completed the Harvard Food Frequency Questionnaire, questions on physical activities, and had their height and weight measured. The HRQOL of the students was assessed using the EQ-5D-Y. Parents completed questions on socio-economic background and children's lifestyle. We applied multilevel regression methods to examine the importance of children's diet quality, physical activity and weight status for the EQ-5D-Y Visual Analogue Scale and for the EQ-5D-Y dimensions.


METHODS
The province of Alberta, Canada.


METHODS
Grade 5 students.


RESULTS
Students with better diet quality, higher physical activity levels and normal body weights were statistically significantly more likely to report better HRQOL than students who ate less healthily, were less active or were overweight or obese.


CONCLUSIONS
The importance of diet quality, physical activity and body weight status for HRQOL may help justify broader implementation of school health programmes that promote healthy eating and active living, as these programmes will help reduce the burden of childhood obesity and improve quality of life.
Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-50 M University Terrace, 8303-112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2T4.
Xiu Yun
XY
Wu
Arto
A
Ohinmaa
Paul J
PJ
Veugelers
D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010290:Parents; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012574:Schools; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires