Public Health Nutrition

Table of Contents - 2004 - Volume 7, Issue 08  

Research Article

Correlates of diet quality in the Quebec population

Isabelle Huota1, Gilles Paradisa2a3 c1, Olivier Receveura1 and Marielle Ledouxa1

the Quebec Heart Health Demonstration Project Research Group

a1 Department of Nutrition, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada

a2 Direction de la Santé Publique de Montréal-Centre, 1301 Sherbrooke Street East, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2L 1M3

a3 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

Abstract

Objective: To determine the correlates of a high-fat diet in urban, suburban and rural areas of Quebec, Canada.

Design: A secondary analysis of data collected as part of a 5-year multi-factorial, multi-setting, community-intervention project.

Setting: Urban, suburban and rural settings of the province of Quebec, 1997.

Subjects: Data were analysed from a sample of 5214 participants (2227 males, 2987 females). A food-frequency questionnaire was completed and a global index of food quality was calculated. Logistic regression was used to identify correlates of a diet high in total fats, saturated fat and cholesterol.

Results: In both genders, lower level of education, smoking status, French and English languages compared with other languages spoken at home, and a rural environment were associated with poor diet quality. Having no intention to eat low-fat dairy products more often was associated with a high-fat diet. In men, obesity (body mass index >30 kg m−2) and absence of reported health problems were correlates of a high-fat diet, while, in women, lower physical activity was a correlate.

Conclusions: Future health interventions in Quebec should target people with low education, smokers and those living in a rural environment. Obese men and sedentary women should have access to specific dietetic resources.

(Received January 12 2004)

(Accepted May 04 2004)

Keywords

Correspondence:

c1 *Corresponding author: Email gilles.paradis@mcgill.ca