The growing Canadian energy gap: more the can than the couch?

AbstractObjectiveThe present study describes the trajectory of the energy gap (energy imbalance) in the Canadian population from 1976 to 2003, its temporal relationship to adult obesity, and estimates the relative contribution of energy availability and expenditure to the energy gap. It also assesses which foods contributed the most to changes in available energy over the study period.DesignAnnual estimates of the energy gap were derived by subtracting population-adjusted per capita daily estimated energy requirements (derived from Dietary Reference Intakes) from per capita daily estimated energy available (obtained from food balance sheets). Food balance sheets were used to assess which foods contributed to changes in energy availability. Adult obesity rates were derived from six national surveys. The relationship to the energy gap was assessed through regression analysis.ResultsBetween 1976 and 2003, per capita daily estimated energy availability increased by 18 % (1744 kJ), and increased energy availability was the major driver of the increased energy gap. Salad oils, wheat flour, soft drinks and shortening accounted for the majority of the net increase in energy availability. Adult obesity was significantly correlated with the energy gap over the study period.ConclusionsThe widening energy gap is being driven primarily by increased energy availability. The food commodities driving the widening energy gap are major ingredients in many energy-dense convenience foods, which are being consumed with increasing frequency in Canada. Policies to address population obesity must have a strong nutritional focus with the objective of decreasing energy consumption at the population level.

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Current World Supplies of and Requirements for Essential Amino Acids

Food and Nutrition Bulletin ◽

10.1177/156482659101300130 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Hoshiai Kazuo

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Essential Amino Acid ◽

Essential Amino Acids ◽

Gdp Per Capita ◽

Amino Acid Requirement ◽

Balance Sheets ◽

Amino Acid Data ◽

Limiting Amino Acid ◽

Per Capita ◽

Food Commodities

Correlations of GDP per capita per year with total protein supplies per capita per day and animal-protein ratios were computed by pooling data prom 164 countries. Average supplies for 1972–1974, 1975–1977, 1979–1981, and 1984–1986 were determined from FAO food balances sheets. Essential amino acid (EAA) supplies by country were computed using amino acid data for food commodities shown in FAO food balance sheets and other data. The EAA requirements for the four periods were estimated by country. When the latest amino acid requirement estimates are used, lysine is the limiting amino acid in all predominantly cereal diets.

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Less than half of the European dietary recommendations for fish consumption are satisfied by national seafood supplies

European Journal of Nutrition ◽

10.1007/s00394-021-02580-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Anneli Lofstedt ◽

Baukje de Roos ◽

Paul G. Fernandes

Keyword(s):

Fish Consumption ◽

Food Systems ◽

Distribution Systems ◽

Production Systems ◽

National Level ◽

Dietary Recommendations ◽

Balance Sheets ◽

Health Authorities ◽

Production And Distribution ◽

Per Capita

Abstract Purpose To review the seafood dietary recommendations of European countries and compare them to national seafood supplies. Methods Current seafood dietary recommendations were collated from national health authorities across Europe. Food balance sheets were downloaded from the FAO, and appropriate conversion factors were applied to each seafood commodity. Average net per capita seafood supplies from 2007 to 2017 were derived from data on imports and production for food from both capture fisheries and aquaculture, accounting for exports. Results Both national dietary recommendations and seafood supplies varied considerably throughout Europe. At a national level, on a per capita basis, only 13 out of the 31 of European dietary recommendations for fish consumption were satisfied by national seafood supplies. Most of the countries with coastal access, as well as those with traditional fish-eating cultures, such as France and countries in Northern Europe, had adequate seafood supplies to meet their recommendations. The landlocked countries of Central and Eastern Europe did not have enough seafood supplies to satisfy their recommendations. Conclusions Our findings emphasise the need to not only consider consumer health outcomes when developing and advocating dietary recommendations, but also the sustainability of food production systems. As many foods are not necessarily locally sourced but traded as part of global production and distribution systems, it is important to consider greater consistency between national dietary recommendations to facilitate more sustainable marine food systems.

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Estimation of the amount of dietary starch available to different populations

Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology ◽

10.1139/y91-010 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 69 (1) ◽

pp. 56-59 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Elizabeth Bright-See ◽

Vartouhi Jazmaji

Keyword(s):

Balance Sheets ◽

Real Change ◽

Different Populations ◽

Per Capita ◽

Dietary Starch ◽

Different Sources ◽

Total Starch

The daily per capita availability of dietary starch was estimated for 38 selected countries using food disappearance data from the FAO provisional food balance sheets (1972–1974 average); starch availability was also estimated for Canada from 1960 to 1987 using Agriculture Canada disappearance data. Total starch availability varies fourfold among the different countries; the availability of different sources of starch vary up to 80-fold. Wheat and roots–tubers were the major sources of starch in countries with low total starch availability. Either corn and pulses, rice and pulses, or wheat and potatoes were the major sources of starch in those countries with high total starch availability. Starch availability in Canada, both total and by source, has been relatively constant over the 27 years examined. Slight increases in total starch and starch from cereals and pulses in 1987 will need to be followed to determine whether these represent the beginning of a real change in per capita starch availability.Key words: starch, availability.

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You aren't what you eat, you become what you eat

10.1101/2021.08.23.21262191 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Christopher R Stephens ◽

Jonathan F Easton ◽

Heriberto Roman Sicilia

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Energy Intake ◽

Energy Gap ◽

Age Groups ◽

Population Level ◽

Energy Imbalance ◽

Obesity Epidemic ◽

Daily Energy ◽

Large Populations ◽

Energy Excess

Obesity (and the consequent obesity epidemic) is a complex, adaptive process, taking place over a time span of many years. Energy intake is recognized as a potentially important driver of obesity, especially in the context of an identifiable energy imbalance which, it is surmised, must lead to weight gain. Similarly, energy expenditure must play an important role. However, both show an enormous degree of individual variation. Therefore, measuring them is an exceedingly difficult task, especially in the context of large populations and long time periods. It has been argued that population-level observed weight gain can be traced back to very small daily energy imbalances while, at the same time, positing that a much larger maintenance energy gap is responsible for maintaining the energy requirements of the increased weight population. In this paper we examine the relation between BMI and energy intake as functions of age. The convexity of the BMI curves as a function of age and gender demonstrate the enhanced obesity risk apparent in young adults and women, and imply that no settling points exist at the population level. Consistent with other studies, overall weight increases are consistent with a very small daily energy imbalance, about 7 cal. Consumption as a function of age shows a small, steady, linear decrease of about 8 cal per year, and can be associated with a maximal energy excess/deficit of about 250cal for the youngest and oldest age groups. By examining weight differences between age groups as a function of age, we argue that this excess/deficit is an important motor for the observed weight differences, and argue that the apparent energy imbalance of 250 cal, due to excess consumption, leads to an effective imbalance of only 7 cal due to the existence of various physiological and behavioral mechanisms that enhance weight homeostasis and effectively reduce the energy excess from 250 cal to 7 cal. We discuss several possibilities for such mechanisms.

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The nutrition transition in Barbados: trends in macronutrient supply from 1961 to 2003

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114510002011 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 104 (8) ◽

pp. 1222-1229 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

T. Sheehy ◽

S. Sharma

Keyword(s):

Total Energy ◽

Nutrition Transition ◽

Premature Death ◽

Limit Set ◽

Dietary Energy ◽

Analysis Software ◽

Dietary Analysis ◽

Balance Sheets ◽

Upper Limit ◽

Per Capita

Barbados has been experiencing increasing rates of obesity and chronic non-communicable diseases characteristic of a country in nutrition transition. However, few studies have been carried out on how precisely the diet has changed in recent decades. Our aim was to analyse the FAO food balance sheets for Barbados from 1961 to 2003 in order to characterise the changes that have taken place in the macronutrient supply of the country during that period. Annual food balance sheets were downloaded from the FAOSTAT database, and per capita supply for twelve commodity groupings was analysed for energy and macronutrient levels using WISP dietary analysis software (Tinuviel Software, Llanfechell, Anglesey, UK). The food supply in 2003 provided over 2500 kJ (about 600 kcal) more energy per capita per d than it did in 1961. Energy from carbohydrate as a percentage of total energy has fallen from 70 % in 1961 to 57 % in 2003 and is now at the lower end of WHO recommendations. Energy from fat as a percentage of total energy increased from 19 % to 28 % and now lies at the upper end of WHO recommendations. Sugars, at over 17 % of dietary energy, are well above the upper limit set by the WHO. Despite having methodological limitations associated with the use of food balance statistics, our data suggest that these imbalances need to be addressed as a matter of priority in order to try to reverse the incidence of nutrition-related chronic diseases that are projected to cause increasing disability and premature death in the country in the coming years.

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Patterns of benzodiazepine use in a Canadian population sample

Epidemiologia e Psichiatria Sociale ◽

10.1017/s1121189x00000531 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 248-254 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Eleonora Esposito ◽

Corrado Barbui ◽

Scott B. Patten

Keyword(s):

Survey Methods ◽

Population Sample ◽

Population Level ◽

Diagnostic Interview ◽

Computer Assisted ◽

Population Demographics ◽

Canadian Population ◽

Benzodiazepine Use ◽

One Year ◽

Reasons For Use

SUMMARYAim – The objective of this study was to identify clinical and demographic factors that may be associated with benzodiazepine treatment, to describe the reported reasons for use of these medications and to appraise the pattern of use in relation to standard guidelines in a general population sample. Methods – Telephone survey methods were employed to select a sample of 3345 people between the ages of 18 and 64. A computer assisted telephone interview, including the Mini Neuropsychiatric Diagnostic Interview (MINI), was administered. Estimates were weighted for design features and population demographics. Results – The overall prevalence of benzodiazepines use was 3.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.6 to 4.1%). There was a higher frequency of medication use in women than men, among respondents who were widowed, separated or divorced, and those with lower levels of education. In relation to MINI diagnosis, diagnoses of Panic Disorder and Major Depression increased the probability of taking benzodiazepines. The reported main reason for use was “Sleep disorders” (68.9%), “Anxiety” (35.8%), “Depression” (27.8%) and “Pain management” (21.2%). More than 80% of subjects were taking benzodiazepines for more than one year. Conclusions – When compared to previous estimates, the lower frequency of benzodiazepines use suggests that there has been improvement in their evidence-based use at a population level. However our results once more confirm the difficulty stopping the use of these medications once they have been started. Further randomized control studies may help clinicians in having a better practical approach to rational benzodiazepine use.Declaration of Interest: None.

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Second-generation antipsychotics and metabolic side-effects: Canadian population-based study

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjo.2018.33 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 256-261 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Lauren Hirsch ◽

Scott B. Patten ◽

Lauren Bresee ◽

Nathalie Jette ◽

Tamara Pringsheim

Keyword(s):

Odds Ratio ◽

Second Generation ◽

Population Level ◽

Population Based ◽

Metabolic Dysfunction ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Canadian Population ◽

Second Generation Antipsychotics ◽

Canadian Health

BackgroundUse of second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) has increased in recent years; however, their use and effect on metabolic outcomes has been poorly characterised in population-level studies.AimsThis study aimed to determine the associations between SGA use and metabolic indicators in a general population.MethodWe used data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey, a cross-sectional survey of Canadian households. Participants were Canadians aged 3–79 years, living in one of the ten provinces. Several metabolic indicators were examined, including weight, body mass index, waist circumference, hypertension, diabetes and two definitions of metabolic syndrome.ResultsThe proportion of Canadians taking an SGA tripled over the study period. SGA use was significantly associated with hypertension (odds ratio 1.94, 95% CI 1.07–3.55) and abdominal obesity in adults, as defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program–Adult Treatment Panel III (odds ratio 2.62, 95% CI 1.45–4.71).ConclusionsEvidence of metabolic dysfunction with SGAs is seen in the Canadian population, along with a rapid increase in prevalence of use since 2007.Declaration of interestNone.

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Adult obesity complications: challenges and clinical impact

Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism ◽

10.1177/2042018820934955 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 204201882093495

Author(s):

Saleem Ansari ◽

Hasan Haboubi ◽

Nadim Haboubi

Keyword(s):

Population Level ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Healthcare Systems ◽

Clinical Impact ◽

Adult Obesity ◽

Individual Level ◽

National Healthcare ◽

Obesity Complications

The complications associated with adult obesity are overwhelming national healthcare systems. No country has yet implemented a successful population-level strategy to reverse the rising trends of obesity. This article presents epidemiological data on the complications of adult obesity and discusses some of the challenges associated with managing this disease at a population and individual level.

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Changes in the dollar value of per capita alcohol, essential, and non-essential retail sales in Canada during COVID-19

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-12226-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Daniel T. Myran ◽

Brendan T. Smith ◽

Nathan Cantor ◽

Lennon Li ◽

Sudipta Saha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Population Level ◽

Interrupted Time Series ◽

Interrupted Time Series Analysis ◽

Retail Sales ◽

Ongoing Research ◽

Per Capita ◽

Statistics Canada ◽

Alcohol Sales

Abstract Background Multiple survey reports suggest that alcohol use has increased in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, less is known about how per capita alcohol sales, which predict population-level alcohol use, have changed and whether changes in alcohol sales differ from changes in sales of other products due to pandemic factors. Methods We obtained monthly retail sales data by industry from Statistics Canada, for the six largest provinces in Canada (containing 93% of the national population), between January 2010 and November 2020, representing time before and 9 months after the start of the pandemic in Canada. We used an interrupted time series analysis to estimate pandemic impacts on the dollar value of monthly per capita (per individuals 15+ years) alcohol, essential and non-essential retail sales. We adjusted our analyses for pre-pandemic sales trends, inflation, seasonality and changing population demographics over time. Results During the first 9 months of the pandemic, the values of per capita alcohol, essential and non-essential sales were, respectively, 13.2% higher, 3.6% higher and 13.1% lower than the average values during the same period in the prior 3 years. Interrupted time series models showed significant level change for the value of monthly per capita alcohol sales (+$4.86, 95% CIs: 2.88, 6.83), essential sales (−$59.80, 95% CIs: − 78.47, − 41.03) and non-essential sales (−$308.70, 95% CIs: − $326.60, − 290.79) during the pandemic. Alcohol sales were consistently elevated during the pandemic, and the pre- and post-pandemic slopes were comparable. In contrast, essential and non-essential retail sales declined in the early months of the pandemic before returning to regular spending levels. Conclusion During the first 9 months of the pandemic, per capita alcohol sales were moderately elevated in Canada. In contrast, non-essential sales were lower than prior years, driven by large decreases during the initial months of the pandemic. These findings suggest that the pandemic was associated with increased population-level alcohol consumption, which may lead to increased alcohol-related harms. Ongoing research is needed to examine how factors, including pandemic-related stressors and specific alcohol sales-related policies, may have influenced changes in alcohol use and harms.

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Conspecifics, not plant reproductive tissues, reduce omnivore prey consumption

10.1101/596015 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

S. Rinehart ◽

J.D. Long

Keyword(s):

Population Level ◽

Field Studies ◽

Predation Rate ◽

Scale Insect ◽

Prey Consumption ◽

Intraspecific Interactions ◽

Conspecific Density ◽

Reproductive Tissues ◽

Consumption Rates ◽

Per Capita

AbstractPlant reproductive tissues (PRTs) can decrease (via reduced consumption) or increase (via numerical response) an omnivores consumption of animal prey. Although PRTs can increase predation pressure through numerical responses of omnivores, PRTs may also suppress predation by increasing omnivore interactions with conspecifics. Despite this potential, studies of the impacts of PRTs on predation by omnivores often overlook the effect of these tissues on intraspecific interactions between omnivores. We designed three studies to examine how PRTs and conspecific density impact prey consumption by ladybeetle omnivores. First, we assessed how PRTs impact scale insect consumption by isolated ladybeetles. Second, we measured how PRTs influence ladybeetle prey suppression when numerical responses were possible. Third, because initial experiments suggested the consumption rates of individual ladybeetles depended upon conspecific density, we compared per capita consumption rates of ladybeetles across ladybeetle density. PRTs did not influence prey consumption by isolated ladybeetles. When numerical responses were possible, PRTs did not influence total predation on prey despite increasing ladybeetle density, suggesting that PRTs decreased per capita prey consumption by ladybeetles. The discrepancy between our lab and field studies is likely a consequence of differences in ladybeetle density - the presence of only two other conspecifics decreased per capita prey consumption by 76%. Our findings suggest that PRTs may not alter the population level effects of omnivores on prey when omnivore numerical responses are offset by reductions in per capita predation rate.

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