Exploring the nutritional vulnerability of homeless men in a Canadian urban setting

Abstract

Homelessness, Aboriginal ethnicity, and nutritional vulnerability are key determinants of health. Substance abuse further compounds health risk. This study explored the nutritional vulnerability of homeless men, some of who were solvent-users, to assess nutrition-related chronic disease risk factors. Anthropometric data were used to calculate disease risk using body mass index. Diet was assessed using a 24-hr food recall and data were compared to Canada’s Food Guide recommendations. A significant proportion of participants had low intakes of vegetables and fruit and milk and alternatives. More than half of the participants met the intake recommendations for grain servings and meat and alternatives. Solvent-using participants consumed significantly higher intakes of vegetables and fruit, grain products, and other foods and beverages, than non-solvent using men. More than half of the participants were classified as overweight or obese. Healthy food consumption was influenced by lack of stable housing, reliance on charitable food, and substance abuse.

Keywords:

• homelessness
• nutrition
• substance abuse
• social determinants of health
• chronic disease risk

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Sunshine House staff and participants for their contribution to, and support for this research study.

Disclaimer statement

Contributors None.

Funding University of Manitoba Academic Enhancement Fund, Sunshine House (in-kind).

Conflict of interest None.

Ethics approval Ethics approval was granted by the University of Manitoba Research Ethics Board.

ORCID

Joyce Slater http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1881-0004

Notes on contributors

Carla D'Andreamatteo, The Food Lady, is a private practice dietitian in Winnipeg, MB and a sessional instructor at the University of Manitoba.

Joyce Slater is an Associate Professor of Community Nutrition at the University of Manitoba. Correspondence to: Joyce Slater, Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, 409 Human Ecology Building, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3G 1R6, Canada. Email: [email protected]