Keeping Pace of Young People's Eating and Physical Activity

A new study will give the province a better picture of eating and physical activity habits of Nova Scotian children and young people.

Keeping Pace will track 2,200 Grade 3, 7 and 11 students from 60 schools across Nova Scotia. Trends will be calculated using similar studies from 2002 and 2006.

"Helping children and youth develop good eating and activity habits early can promote healthy growth and development," said Health Promotion and Protection Minister Maureen MacDonald. "It will also reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other illnesses.

"The study will help determine how best to target our resources, and tell us if we are making progress helping young people live the healthiest lives they can."

From early October 2009 to June 2010, students will wear accelerometers to determine whether they get the recommended 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day, at least five days per week.

Grade 7 and 11 students will also track their eating patterns using an online tool designed to measure how many are eating according to Canada's Food Guide.

The study is a partnership between the province and St. Francis Xavier University, led by Dr. Angie Thompson and Dr. Laurie Wadsworth. The results will be available by December 2010.

Researchers know that young people across North America are spending more time in front of computers, electronic games and TV screens and less time doing physical activities. Trends also suggest that children and youth are not eating healthy foods as recommended by Canada's Food Guide.

The province has invested $750,000 over two years in this phase of the study.