Fruit and Vegetable Intake of Students and Prevalence of Vegetarianism at Lakehead University / by Hesam Kooshesh
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Lakehead University Knowledge Commons,http://knowledgecommons.lakeheadu.ca Electronic Theses and Dissertations Electronic Theses and Dissertations from 2009 2010 Fruit and vegetable intake of students and prevalence of vegetarianism at Lakehead University / by Hesam Kooshesh. Kooshesh, Hesam http://knowledgecommons.lakeheadu.ca/handle/2453/3961 Downloaded from Lakehead University, KnowledgeCommons Diet and Vegetarianism Running head: DIET OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND VEGETARIANISM Fruit and Vegetable Intake of Students and Prevalence of Vegetarianism at Lakehead University Hesam Kooshesh Lakehead University A thesis submitted to Lakehead University in fulfillment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Master of Public Health Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada © Hesam Kooshesh 2010 Library and Archives Bibliothèque et 1^1 Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de l’édition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre référence ISBN: 978- 0- 494- 71740-0 Our file Notre référence ISBN: 978- 0- 494- 71740-0 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non L’auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant à la Bibliothèque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par télécommunication ou par l'Internet, prêter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des thèses partout dans le loan, distribute and sell theses monde, à des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non support microforme, papier, électronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. 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Canada Diet and Vegetarianism ii Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the daily intake levels of fruits and vegetables in a population of post-secondary students at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario and to measure the prevalence rate of vegetarianism in this population. Methods: Food intake, demographic variables and vegetarian status were measured with a survey and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) filled out by students who ate at the Aramark residence cafeteria of Lakehead University between Sunday February U* and Saturday February 7*^, 2009. Two hundred sixty-seven students participated, of which 197 were on the Aramark meal plan and therefore ate all of their meals at this cafeteria (response rate= 43.5% for this group). Results: Forty-three percent of the sample was female, with a mean age of 21 ± 3 years of age. Mean intake of fruits and vegetables was 5.0 ± 2.3 servings/day for females and 4.6 ±2.1 servings/day for males. Females ate significantly more vegetables than males (p < 0.01), Caucasians ate more fruits and vegetables than non-Caucasians (p < 0.01) and vegetarians ate more fruits and vegetables than non-vegetarians (p < 0.01). Within the sample, 6.7% (18/267) self-reported as vegetarian, with the majority being female (14/18) and ovo-lacto vegetarian (13/18). Conclusions: Fruit and vegetable intake in this population is below recommended levels and below the estimated national average for their age group. Males, non-vegetarians and non- Caucasians are at a particular risk of future health deficits due to insufficient fruit and vegetable intake. The prevalence of vegetarianism among Canadian post-secondary students may be higher than in the rest of Canada. Diet and Vegetarianism iii Acknowledgements Over the course of completing this master’s thesis, I have learned a great deal and faced and overcome a number of obstacles. I could not have completed this thesis without the steady support and encouragement of my family. Thank you to my parents whose patience and love made this work possible. I am also greatly indebted to the professional help of several friends and colleagues. To my good friend Justine Bertrand, MSc. OT, I thank you so much for your experienced and dependable help with revisions. Josh Armstrong MSc., thank you also for a PhD student’s perspective on the flow of this thesis. Adrienne Cohen, I very much appreciate having the benefit of your familiarity with literature on vegetarianism and fruit and vegetable intake and thank you for your constant encouragement and support of public health research on plant-based diets. I would very much like to thank Dr. Patricia Smith of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, my thesis supervisor. It has been a long and challenging road but also a very rewarding one. Along the way, your expertise and guidance have been invaluable and your assistance has been instrumental in the completion of this thesis. Thank you so much. Diet and Vegetarianism iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.............................................................................................................................................ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...................................................................................................................iii TABLE OF CONTENTS.......................................................................................................................iv LIST OF FIGURES................................................................................................................................vi LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................................................vii CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................... I Objectives.................................................................................................................................... 1 Daily Food Intake and the Canada Food Guide......................................................................2 Definitions of Vegetarianism....................................................................................................3 Research on the Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables and a Vegetarian Diet......................... 5 Long-term Health Outcomes for Fruit & Vegetable Intake & Vegetarianism....................7 Other Health Benefits..............................................................................................................10 Mechanisms by which Fruits and Vegetables and a Vegetarian Diet Affect Health II Daily Intake of Fruits and Vegetables Among Post-Secondary Students......................... 14 Prevalence of Vegetarianism..................................................................................................18 CHAPTER 2: OVERVIEW OF STUDY............................................................................................22 Food Frequency Questionnaire................................................................................................22 Demographics........................................................................................................................... 24 Vegetarianism........................................................................................................................... 25 CHAPTER 3: METHODS...................................................................................................................27 Participants................................................................................................................................27 Procedure...................................................................................................................................28 Measures....................................................................................................................................29 Ethics......................................................................................................................................... 32 Data Analyses........................................................................................................................... 33 CHAPTER 4: RESULTS.....................................................................................................................38 Response Rate.......................................................................................................................... 38 Participants................................................................................................................................38 Vegetarianism.......................................................................................................................... 40 Daily Intake of the Food Groups...........................................................................................