Abstract
This study examines the connection between factors and Canadians’ consumption of fruits and vegetables. Since eating habits are crucial for health, it is essential to understand how these associations work to create interventions. By analyzing data from the Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 2.2 (CCHS 2.2), we investigate how household income, education level, age, and gender impact daily intake of fruits and vegetables. Our dataset includes responses from a sample of 35,107 Canadians representing a cross-section of the population. We reviewed relevant literature to position our study in the context of existing knowledge. While studies have explored the relationship between factors and dietary behaviors, there needs to be more research specific to the Canadian population. Recognizing this knowledge gap motivated our research question: How do different sociodemographic variables relate to fruit and vegetable consumption in Canada? Our conceptual framework is based on the idea that income, education, age, and gender can significantly influence choices. Building upon research findings, we found it necessary to delve deeper into the sociodemographic landscape of Canada when examining this topic. Sociodemographic factors are believed to influence the habits of Canadians.
This abstract introduces a study that delves into the factors influencing fruit and vegetable consumption in Canada. By using analyses, such as descriptive analysis, chi-square tests, correlation tests, ANOVA tests, and multivariate linear regression models, the research aims to uncover the complex relationship between these variables and dietary choices. The results are expected to offer insights into public health strategies, enabling policymakers and healthcare professionals to develop tailored interventions that meet the needs of the Canadian population.
Introduction
Promoting eating habits is crucial for health, including regularly consuming fruits and vegetables. As countries face increasing rates of diseases, understanding what influences our dietary behaviors becomes essential. This study concentrates on Canada. Seeks to explore how sociodemographic factors relate to people’s daily intake of fruits and vegetables.
Conceptual Framework;
The foundation of this research is built on the idea that sociodemographic factors play a role in shaping our food choices. Previous studies have emphasized how income, education level, age, and gender influence individuals’ food preferences and overall consumption patterns (Almeida et al., 2021). While there have been investigations into these connections, it is clear that a targeted examination within the Canadian context is necessary.
The distinct sociodemographic makeup of Canada, marked by its variety and economic disparities, necessitates an investigation to shape public health strategies customized to the country’s unique requirements (Almeida et al., 2021).
Literature Review;
We searched for existing studies to explore how sociodemographic factors relate to habits. While there is plenty of evidence supporting the impact of income and education on food choices, there needs to be more research explicitly focusing on the population. Our study aims to fill this gap by providing insights into how sociodemographic factors influence Canadians’ dietary behaviors.
A gap in the Literature;
Although the existing literature is informative, it needs a more in-depth exploration of the landscape in Canada. By addressing this gap, our research aims to offer information that can guide policymakers and healthcare professionals in developing targeted interventions. Understanding what influences Canadians’ consumption of fruits and vegetables is crucial for creating strategies that improve health outcomes.
Research. Hypothesis;
Our investigation revolves around a research question: What is the relationship between various sociodemographic variables and fruit and vegetable intake in Canada? We hypothesize that sociodemographic factors play a role in shaping Canadians’ dietary habits. By analyzing these variables, we can uncover patterns and insights essential for public health planning ( Lil et al., 2022). This introduction provides an overview of the rationale, conceptual framework, and research questions that form the foundation for our study (Nardocci et al., 2021). It lays the groundwork for exploring how sociodemographic factors relate to Canadians’ consumption of fruits and vegetables.
The research approach taken in this study involved analyzing existing data, the Canadian Community Health Survey, Cycle 2.2. This survey is a dataset that provides a comprehensive overview of sociodemographic factors and eating habits among Canadians.
Methodology for Using Existing Data;
In this study, we analyzed secondary data using the Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 2.2. This survey, conducted by Statistics Canada, captures information on aspects of health among the population. Using this dataset, we explored the relationship between factors and the consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Description of the Dataset Used;
The dataset contains responses from a sample size of 35,107 participants. These participants come from backgrounds representing a cross-section of the Canadian population (Hosseini et al ., 2019). The dataset includes variables such as intake of fruits and vegetables, household income, education level, age and gender (St-Pierre et al., 2019). With these variables included in our analysis, we can thoroughly examine the factors influencing habits.
Key Variables Analyzed (Definitions);
Dependent Variable: Our study primarily revolves around the everyday intake of fruits and vegetables. To measure this variable, we divided it into three categories;
- Consuming more than five times per day.
- Consuming between 5 to 10 times per day.
- Consuming more than ten times per day.
Independent Variables;
Total Household Income: This represents the income earned by the household. Gives us insight into the economic situation of the participants.
- Education Level: This tells us about the level of education achieved by the respondents, giving us information about their background.
- Age: Here, we have information about the age distribution of participants, which helps us examine any patterns related to age in fruit and vegetable consumption.
- Gender: This indicates how participants are distributed across genders and allows us to consider differences in habits.
These operational definitions ensure that we have consistent categories for analyzing these variables. This makes it easier to interpret the results in a way.
Sample Size;
The analysis was conducted on a sample size of 35,107 individuals, ensuring that we had a representation of the population. With such a cross-section, we can draw conclusions that apply to a wider demographic.
Statistical Methods Used;
In order to explore relationships between variables, we used a combination of methods;
- Univariate Descriptive Analyses: These analyses provided an overview of variables by showing frequencies and percentages.
- Chi-Square Tests: These tests examined associations between education level and fruit/vegetable consumption variables.
- Correlation Tests: We used these tests to investigate relationships between household income and daily consumption variables.
- ANOVA Tests; These tests allowed us to assess any variations in means across groups.Multivariate Linear Regression Models: We investigated how multiple independent variables simultaneously influence a variable, which provides a detailed understanding of associations (St-Pierre et al., 2020).
By adopting this approach, we ensure an exploration of the connections between sociodemographic variables and fruit and vegetable consumption in Canada. Utilizing methods strengthens the reliability of our analysis and enables us to interpret the results nuancedly.
Results
Univariate Descriptive Analyses;
When we initially explore variables through descriptive analyses, we gain insights into important aspects of the Canadian population’s dietary habits and sociodemographic characteristics. In terms of how people consume fruits and vegetables daily, it is worth noting that a significant 73.6% reported eating them less than five times per day. This indicates a gap in meeting the recommended daily intake. Highlights the need to examine factors that influence dietary behaviors more closely.
The distribution of household income tells us that there is a middle-income range, with the most common bracket being $50,000 to $79,999. Understanding this backdrop helps us contextualize individual’s dietary choices (St-Pierre et al., 2019). Regarding age distribution, it spans across categories, with age falling between 31 and 35 years old, which reflects a diverse age demographic ( Button et al., 2019). As for gender distribution, it reveals a split, with 52.9% identifying as female. This provides a representation in our dataset.
Bivariate Analyses;
We conducted tests to investigate the association between education levels and fruit/vegetable consumption. Surprisingly, at this level, the results indicated an association between education and daily consumption patterns (Hosseini et al ., 2019). This suggests that education alone may not be a predictor of these patterns.
This discovery raises the need for investigation into the relationship between variables in a multivariate context (Almeida, et al, 2021). The correlation analysis between household income and daily consumption yielded a coefficient of 0.080, indicating a weak positive correlation. Although statistically significant (p < 0.001), this correlation implies that as household income increases, there is an increase in the consumption of fruits and vegetables daily.
Multivariate Analysis;
To understand how variables are related, we used multiple linear regression models. These models correlate household income and daily fruit/vegetable consumption. As household income increases, there is an increase in consumption (Murphy et al., 2022). However, the overall relationship remains weak, as indicated by the R-value of 0.007. This means that about 0.7% of the variation in consumption can be explained by both household income and education level combined.
When considering education level in the multivariate context, there is a relationship with daily fruit/vegetable consumption. As the education level increases, there is a decrease in daily consumption (St-Pierre et al., 2019). The standardized beta coefficients provide support for these findings, with household income being a predictor (beta = 0.082) compared to education level (beta = 0.019) ( Fernandez et al., 2022). This confirms that education has a limited impact on consumption and emphasizes the role of income in shaping dietary habits ( Albrahim et al., 2023). Both bivariate and multivariate analyses provide a nuanced understanding of how sociodemographic variables relate to fruit/vegetable consumption among Canadians. These findings highlight the importance of considering factors when examining behaviors.
Discussion
Analyzing factors concerning Canadians’ fruit and vegetable consumption reveals a landscape. While the study finds some associations, the influence of income and education on dietary habits is relatively weak. This suggests that other factors shape people’s food choices(Leme et al., 2021). Square tests show differences when examining the connection between education levels and fruit/vegetable intake (St-Pierre et al., 2019). Surprisingly, more than 2% of respondents from all education levels reported consuming the recommended amount ( more than 10 times per day). Across categories, most individuals reported consuming fruits and vegetables more than five times daily (Drisdelle et al., 2020). This consistent pattern indicates that education alone may not strongly predict guideline adherence (Leme et al., 2021). Despite significance, the impact of education level on fruit and vegetable consumption is modest.
The Pearson correlation coefficient between household income and fruit and vegetable consumption is 0.080, indicating a weak positive correlation. This implies that as household income increases, there is an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption. However, this coefficient suggests a practical effect (St-Pierre et al., 2020). The positive correlation indicates that higher-income households tend to have fruit and vegetable intake, but the relationship could be stronger.
Conclusion
The study’s findings provide insights into the relationship between sociodemographic factors and Canadians’ consumption of fruits and vegetables. When analyzing the data, it becomes apparent that many individuals have habits as most consume fruits and vegetables less than five times daily. Researchers discovered limited connections between education levels and fruit/vegetable intake by conducting bivariate analyses and square tests. This highlights the importance of understanding these relationships in a way.
Furthermore, Pearson correlation coefficients indicate a correlation between total household income and daily fruit/vegetable consumption. While statistically significant, this correlation has limited impact. Multivariate linear regression models further support this idea by emphasizing that income and education modestly influence behaviors. The low R squared value of 0.007 suggests that only a small portion of the variation in fruit and vegetable consumption can be explained by variables.
These findings imply that addressing habits among Canadians requires an approach. Although income and education do play a role, solely focusing on them may not lead to changes in fruit and vegetable intake. Implementing public health interventions that consider social and environmental factors influencing dietary behavior is crucial. Such interventions are essential for promoting eating habits among the population. Based on a study involving a dataset of over 35,000 participants, this research thoroughly explores the complex relationship between sociodemographic factors and Canadians’ dietary preferences. Surprisingly, the findings reveal a disparity between eating habits and the recommended intake of fruits and vegetables, with most Canadians reporting consuming them less than five times a day.
Plain Language Summary
By analyzing how income, education and dietary habits are interconnected, this study uncovers a web of intricate influences. Although there is some significance it suggests that income and education alone may not impact fruit and vegetable consumption. This challenges the belief that increasing income levels or educational attainment can-handedly improve Canadians’ dietary behaviors.
The key takeaway from this research is clear: adopting a one-size-fits-all approach focused solely on improving income and education might lead to different outcomes. Policymakers and healthcare professionals are encouraged to develop strategies acknowledging the unique interplay of factors influencing dietary choices. This study provides insights for those working towards nutrition in Canada by informing the development of interventions tailored to address specific challenges faced by different demographic groups. By unraveling these connections, this study contributes to academic knowledge and establishes a solid basis for more effective targeted interventions. It is crucial to grasp this concept as it promotes dietary practices among Canadians, ultimately leading to an overall enhancement of the nation’s health and well-being.
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