title: Household income, food insecurity and nutrition in Canadian youth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The contribution of nutrition to health inequalities is poorly understood, particularly with regard to children. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of income and the conjoint influence of low income and food insecurity on several dietary indicators in a representative sample of Canadian youth.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) Cycle 2.2, a nationally representative population-based sample, to examine the diets of 8,938 youth aged 9-18 years. A single 24-hour recall was used to collect dietary information. Interviews were conducted in person, and anthropometric measurements were available for 71% of the sample. Estimates of variance were calculated using bootvar with weights specific to the CCHS. Generalized linear models were used to examine the associations between both low income and low-income food insecurity and anthropometric measures, food and nutrient intakes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Youth from low-income households had lower height percentiles than youth from higher-income households. Low-income girls (but not low-income boys) had a higher prevalence of BMI > or = 85th percentile than their higher-income counterparts. Among low-income food-insecure households, there was a higher prevalence of BMI > or = 85th percentile in boys than among the food-secure low-income boys. Calcium and vitamin D intakes were lower among boys and girls living in low-income households. Similarly, milk consumption was lower in low-income boys. Low-income food-insecure girls had lower milk intakes and higher intake of sweetened beverages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found some evidence of nutritional deprivation among Canadian youth from disadvantaged households. Longer-term indicators of nutritional status such as lower height and greater weight among disadvantaged households were consistent with these findings.
authors.affiliation: School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montréal, QC. marksean@interchange.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Loughlin
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gray-Donald
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003710:Demography; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009752:Nutritional Status