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Biomedical subjects

S E Evers

Publications and source records attributed to S E Evers.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Dietary intake and anthropometric status of 7 to 9 year old children in economically disadvantaged communities in Ontario.

OBJECTIVE: There is limited information on the nutritional health of Canadian children, particularly those living in poverty. Our purpose was to assess the dietary and anthropometric status of economically disadvantaged children as part of the longitudinal, multidisciplinary prevention project, Better Beginnings, Better Futures. METHODS: We obtained 24-hour dietary recalls and measurements of height, weight, triceps skinfolds and mid-arm circumference from children (n = 178) aged 7 to 9 years in three urban communities. Information on demographic characteristics was obtained through a parent interview. RESULTS: Linear growth appeared adequate with both boys (chi 2 = 44.1, p < .001) and girls (chi 2 = 10.8, p < .01) taller compared to NCHS reference data. The proportion of children > 90th percentile for weight-for-height (23.2%) and upper arm fat area (14.3%), suggests a tendency to excess fat; 21.1% were < 10th for percentile upper arm muscle area. Median nutrient intakes, except for calcium and vitamin A, exceeded the Canadian Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI); however, median energy intake was well below the RNI. Energy and macronutrient intakes were similar across Z score categories of weight-for-height, upper arm muscle area, and upper arm fat area. CONCLUSIONS: The tendency to inadequate muscle mass and excess fat in the presence of low energy intake may reflect low levels of physical activity.

Anthropometry

Lack of impact of salt restriction advice on hypertensive patients.

The response of known hypertensives to advice on sodium restriction was examined as part of a 5-year study on hypertension screening in family practice. The study comprised 34 family practices, pair-matched for location, activity level, and length of time in present practice. One practice in each matched pair was randomly allocated to an experimental or a control group. All hypertensive patients in each experimental practice were exposed to a management program which included dietary counseling to restrict sodium intake. A sample of hypertensive patients (N = 1,001) in both control and experimental groups was interviewed 3.5 years into the study. Although more subjects in experimental practices reported not adding salt (22.9%) compared with those in control practices (17.3%), the results of multivariate analysis showed that type of practice (experimental or control) was not significantly associated with salt use. Salt avoidance was strongly related to lower levels of education and to sex (men were less likely to use salt). Subjects who did not use salt also tended to avoid high-sodium foods. The response to nutritional advice was less favorable than expected. Difficulties in compliance with dietary recommendations are discussed.

Adult

Morbidity in Canadian Indian and non-Indian children in the first year of life.

A cohort study of health status was undertaken to determine the patterns of morbidity in the first year of life for Indian and non-Indian infants living in southern Ontario. The annual incidence of office-reported health problems was 8.0 episodes for the 99 Indians and 4.5 for the 316 non-Indians studied. The risk of illness of most diagnostic categories was more than 1.5 times greater and the rate of hospital admission 4 times greater for the Indian infants. There was no difference between the two cohorts in the rates of visits to hospital emergency departments. The main cause of illness in both cohorts was respiratory tract infection; lower respiratory tract infections, particularly pneumonia, were a major health problem among the Indian infants. Only 36% of the Indian infants compared with 68% of the non-Indian infants attended five or more well-baby examinations. Part of the difference in morbidity between the Indian and non-Indian infants may be attributed to environmental factors, health care behaviour and geographic constraints.

Canada