Development and implications of a revised Canadian Healthy Eating Index (HEIC-2009)

Abstract

Objective The purpose was to update the Healthy Eating Index-C (HEI-C) with Canadas new food guide recommendations (HEIC-2009) and compare scores and ratings among a small sample of grade 6 students.Design Updates to the HEI-C were completed with Canadas new food guide recommendations for daily number of servings. HEI-C and HEIC-2009 scores were computed for a small sample (n 405) of grade 6 students utilizing nutrition data that were collected using the Food Behaviour Questionnaire, a validated web-based dietary assessment tool (including a 24 h dietary recall, FFQ, and food and physical activity behavioural questions).Setting Data were collected in fifteen schools in the Region of Waterloo District School Board, Ontario, Canada.Subjects A total of 405 students (48 % males and 52 % females) from grade 6 classrooms completed the web-based survey.Results The index scores revealed that participants scored higher (74.5 v. 69.6, P < 0.001) using the HEIC-2009 compared with the HEI-C, even though both index scores are rated in the 'needs improvement' category (HEIC-2009, 75 %; HEI-C, 71 %). A small group of participants (n 14), who were previously rated (using the HEI-C) in the 'poor' category, were rated in the needs improvement category using the HEIC-2009 (Χ2 = 589.647, df = 4, P < 0.001).Conclusions The HEIC-2009 has the potential to be used as a population-level diet quality index in Canada. © 2010 The Authors.