Nutrition, physical activity and related health behaviours in youth as assessed by a Web-surve

Overweight and obesity prevalence have increased dramatically over the past two decades. Further, national surveys have indicated that Canadian adolescents have suboptimal nutritional intakes and low levels of physical activity. In order to provide a better understanding of the dietary and physical activity behaviours of Canadian youth, the purpose of this research was to explore the nutrition, physical activity and related health behaviours of a sample of adolescents in Alberta and Ontario, Canada. This was done with a comprehensive surveillance of behavioural variables using a novel web-based assessment tool. Further, in-school assessments (measured) and repeat web-based surveys (self-report) were examined to specifically investigate the reliability and validity of Web-SPAN (Web-Survey of Physical Activity and Nutrition). On average, students were within the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges for all macronutrients; however, micronutrient and fibre intakes were sub-optimal. Overall diet quality reflected the low adherence to Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating (CFGHE), and indicated that over 40% had poor diet quality. Macronutrient intakes and servings of Other Foods were significantly different between diet quality groups (based on CFGHE; poor, met 0-1; average, met 2-3; superior, met all 4 minimum food group recommendations) and between non-overweight, overweight and obese students (determined using the International Obesity Task Force cut-offs). Further, differences were observed between diet quality groups and weight status for physical activity and breakfast consumption. Improvements in physical activity and breakfast consumption were observed when diet quality increased, or weight status decreased. Students with poor diet quality consumed meals away from home more frequently than those with higher diet quality. Overall correlations were good for reliability and validity of Web-SPAN. In conclusion, Alberta and Ontario adolescents were not meeting minimum CFGHE recommendations, and thus have sub-optimal micronutrient intakes and poor diet quality. Sub-optimal nutritional intakes, meal skipping, consuming meals away from home and physical inactivity were related to poor diet quality and weight status and reflect the need to target these health behaviours in order to improve overall health and wellness. The validation of various components of the web-based survey makes this tool an attractive, efficient and costeffective method of data collection.