Social Determinants of Adolescent Eating Behaviours: Findings from the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth

Abstract

Understanding how eating behaviours differ across sociodemographic groups is crucial for identifying at-risk youth and informing targeted public health strategies. This study examined how these behaviours vary by sociodemographic characteristics in a nationwide sample of the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (n=13,605 youth aged 12-17 years). Covariate-adjusted logistic regression models were used to test for differences in four eating behaviours (frequency of breakfast consumption, participation in evening family meals, consumption of sugary drinks, and restrictive eating) by gender, age, racial/cultural background, parental education, household income, and food security status. Girls were more likely to skip breakfast and change their eating habits to manage their weight, but less likely to report frequent sugary drink consumption and frequent family meals compared to boys. Older youth demonstrated less favourable practices when compared with younger youth. Differences in eating behaviours were observed among racial subgroups, with Black youth being more at risk of reporting sub-optimal eating behaviours compared to White youth. Adolescents with lower parental education were more likely to report infrequent breakfast and regular sugary beverage consumption. Food insecurity and household income were associated with less desirable eating behaviours. Social disparities in eating behaviours exist among Canadian youth, emphasizing the need for targeted health promotion interventions to address the structural factors contributing to dietary inequities.