DIETARY PATTERNS OF A GROUP OF CHILDREN, THEIR MOTHERS AND GRANDMOTHERS LIVING IN SASKATOON

Information on dietary patterns is useful for nutritional epidemiology and also has applications for nutrition educators. The current study had four objectives: to characterize the dietary patterns of a convenience sample of children, their biological mothers, and grandmothers, in terms of percent of energy as macronutrients, servings from food groups, and intake of selected micronutrients; to determine generational differences in dietary patterns; to determine if there was a family influence on dietary patterns; and to compare the dietary patterns of our subjects with similar age groups in 1970-72. Four days of dietary intake data, based on a combination of 24-hour recalls and 3-day diaries, were available for 76 children aged 8 to 12 years, 59 mothers aged 31 to 52 years, and 19 grandmothers aged 58 to 83 years, who were participants in bone density studies at the University of Saskatchewan. The children reported a low intake of Fruits and Vegetables per day (3.9 ± 2 servings), reflected by a lower intake of vitamin A, K, folate and fibre. The mothers' diet was high in fat, indicated by a high percent of energy as fat (36 + 6), and servings of Fats and Oils (6.0 ± 3.6). The mothers appeared least likely of the three generational groups to have implemented dietary recommendations to reduce fat and increase carbohydrate. The grandmothers' higher intake of Fruits and Vegetables was reflected in higher intakes of vitamin A, K, folate and fibre. This group was close to achieving dietary guidelines. A family similarity in dietary patterns was found for variables associated with fat consumption between related pairs of children and their mothers. No family similarities were found between related pairs of mothers and grandmothers. The children 5-11 years, females 40-64 years, and females 65+ years, had higher carbohydrate and lower fat intakes as percent of energy than similar age groups in 1970-1972. Our data suggests that the older women have made greater modifications to their diets since 1970 than the younger women. Generational differences in dietary patterns suggest that there may have been differences in responses to nutrition recommendations and dietary guidelines. Investigation is needed into possible underlying differences in lifestyle factors, attitudes and beliefs, that impact on generational responses to dietary recommendations.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Grantor

University of Saskatchewan

Year dc:date.issued

1996

Author dc:creator

• Lemke, Elizabeth Rose

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Whiting, Susan J.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Zello, Gordon
• Bailey, Don
• McKay, Heather
• Hawes, Ted

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10388/15252

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:harvest.usask.ca:10388/15252