The distribution of hunger in Canadian youth

As a foundation for prevention, evidence is required to establish the contemporary distribution of hunger in Canadian adolescents. We present findings from a nationally representative survey of young Canadians on how perceived hunger is distributed demographically, socially and contextually.

A probability-based sample of 15 656 young Canadians aged 11 to 15 years who completed the 2017/18 cycle of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study was used. Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression analyses were used to profile the study population and the distribution of hunger attributed to "not having enough food at home."

Overall, one in six (16.6%) survey participants reported experiencing hunger. There was a strong and significant correlation between low socioeconomic status and hunger (p $lt; 0.001 for the low and middle socioeconomic groups, compared to the high socioeconomic status group). Notably, 12.5% of participants with high levels of affluence also reported such experiences of hunger; however, this was not a statistically significant finding. Hunger was less frequently reported in older participants and in higher grade levels, with some level of significance. Regression analyses indicated that, within the sample, some demographic characteristics correlated with experiences of hunger: lower levels of affluence, identifying as male or nonbinary gender, long-term immigrant status, and identifying as Black, Latin American or mixed ethnicity.

Clear disparities exist in the self-reported experience of hunger among young people in Canada.