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Abstract
Anthropometry, dietary intakes and food preferences of Mohawk children in Kahnawake were studied. Overweight, defined by body mass index at and above the 85th percentile of United States all-race children was 29.6% in boys and 32.8% in girls aged 5 to 12 years; rates were generally lower than those reported for Native North American schoolchildren using same criterion. Compared with U.S. data, there were greater differences in subscapular than triceps skinfold thicknesses, suggesting a more central distribution of subcutaneous fat. Mean energy intakes of Grades 4 to 6 children were adequate to achieve normal growth, and height-for-age and weight-for-height showed no evidence of malnutrition. Mean fat intake as a percentage of total energy was lower than average seen in North American schoolchildren ($<$35% at p $<$ 0.001). Twenty percent of children reported consumption of traditional or cultural Mohawk food. Children had a high preference for most of 24 food items assessed.
