Eating habits of a population undergoing a rapid dietary transition: portion sizes of traditional and non-traditional foods and beverages consumed by Inuit adults in Nunavut, Canada

Background: To determine the portion sizes of traditional and non-traditional foods being consumed by Inuit adults in three remote communities in Nunavut, Canada. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out between June and October, 2008. Trained field workers collected dietary data using a culturally appropriate, validated quantitative food frequency questionnaire (QFFQ) developed specifically for the study population. Results: Caribou, muktuk (whale blubber and skin) and Arctic char (salmon family), were the most commonly consumed traditional foods; mean portion sizes for traditional foods ranged from 10 g for fermented seal fat to 424 g for fried caribou. Fried bannock and white bread were consumed by >85% of participants; mean portion sizes for these foods were 189 g and 70 g, respectively. Sugar-sweetened beverages and energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods were also widely consumed. Mean portion sizes for regular pop and sweetened juices with added sugar were 663 g and 572 g, respectively. Mean portion sizes for potato chips, pilot biscuits, cakes, chocolate and cookies were 59 g, 59 g, 106 g, 59 g, and 46 g, respectively. Conclusions: The present study provides further evidence of the nutrition transition that is occurring among Inuit in the Canadian Arctic. It also highlights a number of foods and beverages that could be targeted in future nutritional intervention programs aimed at obesity and diet-related chronic disease prevention in these and other Inuit communities

Sources of Food Affect Dietary Adequacy of Inuit Women of Childbearing Age in Arctic Canada

Dietary transition in the Arctic is associated with decreased quality of diet, which is of particular concern for women of childbearing age due to the potential impact of maternal nutrition status on the next generation. The study assessed dietary intake and adequacy among Inuit women of childbearing age living in three communities in Nunavut, Canada. A culturally-appropriate quantitative food-frequency questionnaire was administered to 106 Inuit women aged 19-44 years. Sources of key foods, energy and nutrient intakes were determined; dietary adequacy was determined by comparing nutrient intakes with recommendations. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was >70%, and many consumed inadequate dietary fibre, folate, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin A, D, E, and K. Non-nutrient-dense foods were primary sources of fat, carbohydrate and sugar intakes and contributed >30% of energy. Traditional foods accounted for 21% of energy and >50% of protein and iron intakes. Strategies to improve weight status and nutrient intake are needed among Inuit women in this important life stage

Sources of Food Affect Dietary Adequacy of Inuit Women of Childbearing Age in Arctic Canada

Dietary transition in the Arctic is associated with decreased quality of diet, which is of particular concern for women of childbearing age due to the potential impact of maternal nutrition status on the next generation. The study assessed dietary intake and adequacy among Inuit women of childbearing age living in three communities in Nunavut, Canada. A culturally-appropriate quantitative food-frequency questionnaire was administered to 106 Inuit women aged 19-44 years. Sources of key foods, energy and nutrient intakes were determined; dietary adequacy was determined by comparing nutrient intakes with recommendations. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was >70%, and many consumed inadequate dietary fibre, folate, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin A, D, E, and K. Non-nutrient-dense foods were primary sources of fat, carbohydrate and sugar intakes and contributed >30% of energy. Traditional foods accounted for 21% of energy and >50% of protein and iron intakes. Strategies to improve weight status and nutrient intake are needed among Inuit women in this important life stage

Dietary adequacy of vitamin D and calcium among Inuit and Inuvialuit women of child-bearing age in Arctic Canada: a growing concern.

Arctic populations are at an increased risk of vitamin D inadequacy due to geographic latitude and a nutrition transition. This study aimed to assess the adequacy of dietary vitamin D and calcium among women of child-bearing age in Arctic Canada.This study collected data from 203 randomly selected women of child-bearing age (19-44 years) in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories of Arctic Canada. Cross-sectional surveys using a validated quantitative food frequency questionnaire were analysed to determine the dietary adequacy of vitamin D and calcium and summarize the top foods contributing to vitamin D and calcium intake among traditional food eaters (TFE) and non-traditional food eaters (NTFE).The response rate was between 69-93% depending on the community sampled. Mean BMIs for both TFE and NTFE were above the normal range. Traditional food eaters had a significantly higher median vitamin D intake compared with non-traditional eaters (TFE=5.13 ± 5.34 µg/day; NTFE=3.5 ± 3.22 µg/day, p=0·004). The majority of women (87%) were below the Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) for vitamin D. Despite adequate median daily calcium intake in both TFE (1,299 ± 798 mg/day) and NTFE (992 ± 704 mg/day; p=0.0005), 27% of the study population fell below the EAR for calcium. Dairy products contributed the most to intake of vitamin D (TFE=30.7%; NTFE=39.1%) and calcium (TFE=25.5%; NTFE=34.5%).Inadequate dietary vitamin D intake is evident among Inuit and Inuvialuit women of child-bearing age in Arctic Canada. Promotion of nutrient-rich sources of traditional foods, supplementation protocols and/or expanded food fortification should be considered to address this nutrition concern

Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of traditional food eaters and non-traditional food eaters^a among Inuit and Inuvialuit women of child-bearing age (19-44 years) in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.

<p>BMI, body mass index; HS, high school; NTFE, non-traditional food eaters; SD, standard deviation; TFE, traditional food eaters.</p>a<p>Traditional eaters consumed >300 g and non-traditional eaters consumed ≤300 g of traditional foods/day.</p>b<p>A Student t-test was performed.</p>c<p>Numbers do not add up to the total <i>n</i> as a result of missing responses (BMI, n = 42; smoking status, n = 5; MSL score, n = 22; marital status, n = 7; educational level, n = 5).</p>d<p>A Chi-square test was performed.</p>e<p>14 women from TFE and 28 women from NTFE refused to be measured for height and weight and also did not self report.</p>f<p>Material Style of Life score was considered a proxy for socioeconomic status.</p

Top ten food groups contributing to vitamin D and calcium intake among traditional food eaters and non-traditional food eaters^a for Inuit and Inuvialuit women of child-bearing age in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.

a<p>Traditional eaters consumed >300 g and non-traditional eaters consumed ≤300 g of traditional foods/day.</p>b<p>Includes char, trout, white fish, fish battered or fried, fish eggs, whale fat or oil.</p>c<p>Includes sugar, hash browns, fried potato, French fries, salad dressing, pizza, ice cream, cake, pie, sweet donuts, Danish roll, pastries, potato chips, party mix, popcorn, crackers, wheat thins, sesame snacks, pilot biscuits, cookies, candy, chocolate, jelly, butter or margarine, sweetened drink, tang, juice, pop, energy drinks.</p>d<p>Includes caribou, muskox, moose (boiled, baked, roast, dried, fried, burger, stir-fried with vegetables), meat organs, polar bear, rabbit or musk rat, caribou fat, Eskimo ice cream, caribou soup, stew, blood soup.</p>e<p>Includes artificial sweetener, low fat or light salad dressing, popcorn, nuts, low fat spreads, low fat butter and margarines, peanut butter, unsweetened drinks, fruit juice, pop, diet cola, diet energy drinks.</p>f<p>Includes wild birds, duck, ptarmigan, geese, swan and crane.</p