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What’s Inside Adolescent nutrition and lifestyle The web Their future health Research Views Responding to the reader Fatigue and illness Basic research: the foundation for medicine Learning to walk...again At the Forefront Researchers in the making Heritage Youth Researcher Summer (HYRS) Program 2006 Reader Resources Adolescent nutrition and lifestyle Spurred by the success of blockbuster documentaries such as Supersize Me and best-selling books detailing the inner workings of the fast-food industry, the public’s interest in nutrition and health is on the rise. But despite the media attention and increased awareness, academic research related to this subject is failing to address certain segments of the population. One group in particular that has been neglected is adolescents. Dr. Linda McCargar, a University of Alberta professor specializing in human nutrition, uses the technology of the World Wide Web to find out more about the lifestyle choices and nutritional habits of Alberta kids in grades 7 to 10. “When we look at the wide body of academic literature out there, there is some information on nutrition behaviours in younger children and adults; however, very little is known about adolescents. The challenge [kids in] this age group face is that they’re becoming more independent regarding their food and activity choices; they have to make decisions away from home and under the influence of their peers. We are interested in knowing what choices they are making and why.” Dr. McCargar hopes to use research not only to record lifestyle behaviours for this group, but ultimately to evaluate change in school nutrition policies. The web “The web-based survey is a great tool for this type of study,” she says. “The students in the Grade-7 to -10 age group are computer-savvy, so it’s very easy for them. The teachers get involved, and it allows us to reach more schools. If we had to go to each school to administer the survey, it would drastically reduce the number of students we could reach. Instead, the students do the survey during the school day, and researchers at the university can access the information electronically.” The survey asks students direct questions about their food and physical activities. It also probes deeper and asks them about where they eat, how much confidence they have that they are choosing the right foods, and what factors influence their decision-making. The survey uses visuals of different-size containers and asks each student to choose the one representing the amount of a particular food eaten. Dr. McCargar believes that this web-based approach is easier to use and generates more accurate data than traditional paper surveys. Its combination of questions on both nutritional and physical activity also makes it a strong study. Liver problems “Nutrition and physical activity go hand in hand with regard to chronic-disease prevention,” explains Dr. McCargar. “Today’s adolescents are tomorrow’s adults, and their behaviour today will influence their health in the future. The long-term consequences of unhealthy lifestyles don’t pose an immediate concern to young people. We want to get the message out that the benefit of eating well and incorporating physical activity into everyday life isn’t just about weight. It’s about having energy, feeling good, being alert at school, and performing well.” Dr. Linda McCargar receives support through the Health Research Fund, administered by AHFMR on behalf of Alberta Health and Wellness. She is a full professor in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science in the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry, and Home Economics. Dr. McCargar received the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award in Health and Medicine for 2005 and was named 2005 Woman of the Year by the Academic Women’s Association at the University of Alberta. Dr. McCargar’s research is also supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Alberta Diabetes Foundation (ADF). Selected publications Deegan H, Bates HM, McCargar LJ. Assessment of iron status in adolescents: dietary, biochemical and lifestyle determinants. Journal of Adolescent Health 2005 Jul;37(1):75.e15-75.e21. Ball GDC, McCargar LJ. Childhood obesity in Canada: a review of prevalence estimates and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology 2003 Feb;28(1):117-140. Back to Top