Weight Status and Determinants of Health In Manitoba Children and Youth

Purpose: Because of the tremendous increase in overweight and obesity in Canadian children and youth in recent decades, we examined associations among health determinants, healthy living characteristics, and overweight and obesity in Manitoba children and youth. Methods: Using descriptive statistics and logistic regression, we identified factors associated with measured overweight and obesity in a sample of 1651 Manitoba children and youth aged two to 17 years from the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey 2.2-Nutrition. Results: Thirty-one percent of the children and youth were overweight or obese. Males aged 12 to 17 or from food-insecure homes were more likely to be overweight or obese than were younger males or males from food-secure households. Females from households with higher parental education were less likely to be overweight or obese than were those from households with lower parental education. Female youth who were sedentary for at least three hours daily were more likely to be overweight or obese than were less sedentary female youth. A trend toward significance with overweight or obesity in youth was noted with levels of daily fruit and vegetable consumption and regular physical activity. Conclusions: Overweight and obesity in Manitoba children and youth are associated with socio-economic and demographic characteristics, and with food and activity behaviours. These findings can inform health and nutrition policy and practice by indicating health inequities that require particular attention.