DIETARY INTAKES AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN A SAMPLE OF CHILDREN IN SASKATOON

Diet and physical activity are modifiable human behaviors and play important roles in children's health. Almost all diet and physical activity studies in children have examined diet or physical activity separately and have not looked at these two factors together in the same sample of children. This study was carried out to investigate both diet and physical activity in a group of children to better understand the relationship of diet and physical activity, as well as to collect healthy reference data for future studies in clinical child populations. Fifty children (26 females and 24 males) ages ranging from 6 to 15 years, living in Saskatoon were recruited for the study. Mean ages, heights, weights, head circumferences and tricep skinfold thicknesses of male and female children were not significantly different to each other. Male children had significantly higher energy, carbohydrate, protein, and fat intakes. Energy intakes of males and females were low compared to literature values. Thirty one (62%) children were below adequate intake (AI) for calcium and the number of children below AI for vitamin D was 16 (38%). Thirty two (64%) children were below estimated average requirement (EAR) for vitamin E. There was no difference in the level of physical activity between male and female children when using Physical activity questionnaire for older children (PAQ-C), activity diary, and Caltrac. Twenty percent of children was obese and this was similar to the North American reported values. Both males (-192 ± 610 kcal) and females (- 410 ± 393 kcal) had a apparent negative energy balance with a significantly greater negative balance observed in females (p