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Calcium, Vitamin D, Iron, and Folate Messages in Three Canadian Magazines
Marcia Cooper1, Lindsay Zalot2, Laurie A Wadsworth3
1a Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, Food Directorate, HPFB, Health Canada, Sir Frederick G. Banting Research Centre, Ottawa, Ont.
Summary
Canadian magazines provided accurate nutrition information on key nutrients like calcium and iron for women aged 19-50. Most messages aligned with national health policies, offering valuable insights for dietitians.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Media Studies
- Public Health
Background:
- Canadian Community Health Survey data identified calcium, vitamin D, iron, and folate as nutrients of concern for females aged 19-50.
- Print media, specifically magazines, serves as a significant channel for disseminating health and nutrition information to the public.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the quantity, format, and accuracy of messages concerning key nutrients (calcium, vitamin D, iron, folate) in Canadian magazines.
- To assess the alignment of these nutrition messages with established Canadian nutrition policies.
Main Methods:
- Content analysis methodology was employed to systematically code messages.
- A stratified sample of 33 issues from Canadian Living, Chatelaine, and Homemakers magazines (2003-2008) was analyzed.
- Pilot research ensured inter-coder reliability and refined the coding instruments.
Main Results:
- A total of 595 messages were identified, averaging 18 per issue, with calcium messages being most frequent.
- Messages appeared predominantly in articles (46%) and advertisements (37%).
- A high percentage of messages were accurate (82%) and congruent with Canadian nutrition policies (90%).
Conclusions:
- The study confirms that Canadian magazines largely provided accurate nutrition information consistent with national policies between 2003 and 2008.
- These findings offer valuable insights for dietitians regarding the nature of nutrition messaging in popular print media.
- The research underscores the importance of monitoring media content to ensure public health messaging aligns with evidence-based guidelines.
