Canadian federal penitentiaries as obesogenic environments: a retrospective cohort study

Johnson, Claire; Chaput, Jean‐Philippe; Diasparra, Maikol; Richard, Catherine; Dubois, Lise

doi:10.9778/cmajo.20180044

Cited by 15 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…In our recent publication, we found that Canadian inmates gained a significant amount of weight during incarceration 25. Our findings showed that, on admission, obesity rates were similar to the general Canadian population (~27%), but after at least 6 months of incarceration obesity rates increased to 45% for the inmate population 25. We suspect the observed weight gain was associated with tobacco cessation in Canadian inmates.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 49%

“…The majority of studies on obesity in prison were out of Australia, the USA and the UK 26. In our recent publication, we found that Canadian inmates gained a significant amount of weight during incarceration 25. Our findings showed that, on admission, obesity rates were similar to the general Canadian population (~27%), but after at least 6 months of incarceration obesity rates increased to 45% for the inmate population 25.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 46%

“…In support of this hypothesis, studies from penitentiaries where tobacco was still permitted reported a modest weight gain (0.7–0.96 kg weight gain over 1–2 years) 23 26 27 51 52. Contrary to Canadian data on inmate weight gain,25 these studies found that inmates were less likely to be obese than the general population,23 26 27 51 52 possibly in part because they were incarcerated in penitentiaries that still allowed smoking.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

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How did the tobacco ban increase inmates’ body weight during incarceration in Canadian federal penitentiaries? A cohort study

et al. 2019

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ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine how inmates’ body weight changed during incarceration in Canadian federal penitentiaries, based on their history of tobacco use. Since tobacco was banned from all Canadian federal penitentiaries in 2008, little is known about the unintended health consequences of this ban, especially on inmates’ body weight.DesignCohort study.SettingParticipants were male and female inmates incarcerated for at least 6 months in Canadian federal penitentiaries. We collected data from 10 institutions in two Canadian regions (Ontario and Atlantic).ParticipantsWe collected data from 754 inmates who volunteered to participate in the study.InterventionThis study examined weight change in relation to a history of tobacco use. In 2016–2017, anthropometric data were collected and compared with recorded anthropometric data at the beginning of incarceration (mean follow-up of 5.0±8.3 years). Self-reported data on tobacco and substance use were collected. Weight change was compared between inmates with and without a history of tobacco use.OutcomesThe main outcome measures were body weight change (kg), body mass index (BMI) change (kg/m2), annual weight change (kg/year), and BMI and waist circumference (cm) at the time of the interview.ResultsDuring incarceration, ex-smokers gained more than twice the amount of weight compared with non-smokers (7.5 kg weight gain for smokers vs 3.7 kg weight gain for non-smokers). Once adjusted for covariates in a regression analysis, for inmates who gained the most weight (75th and 90th percentiles), non-smokers had, respectively, 1.64 and 2.3 lower BMI points than ex-smokers.ConclusionsDuring incarceration in Canadian federal penitentiaries, inmates with a history of tobacco use gained significantly more weight than non-smokers. This put them at increased risk of developing obesity-related health problems. This information is important for the prison setting when planning related programmes and regulation.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 49%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 46%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

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How did the tobacco ban increase inmates’ body weight during incarceration in Canadian federal penitentiaries? A cohort study

et al. 2019

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“…The observed weight gain is considered to be unhealthy since it significantly increased obesity prevalence during incarceration, with obesity rates rising from 27% at admission to the penitentiaries to 46% at the time of follow-up ( Johnson et al, 2018). This represented a 70% increase during incarceration ( Johnson et al, 2018). We suspected that weight gain could be associated with mental health and psychotropic medication use.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…A recent study found weight gain in Canadian federal penitentiaries to be worrisome, since 73% of people gained weight during incarceration ( Johnson et al, 2018). The observed weight gain is considered to be unhealthy since it significantly increased obesity prevalence during incarceration, with obesity rates rising from 27% at admission to the penitentiaries to 46% at the time of follow-up ( Johnson et al, 2018). This represented a 70% increase during incarceration ( Johnson et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Weight Gain and Mental Health in the Canadian Prison Population

Johnson

Chaput

Blanchard

et al. 2021

Journal of Correctional Health Care

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Most inmates gain excessive bodyweight during incarceration in Canadian federal penitentiaries. It is currently unknown if the weight gain is related to participants' higher prevalence of mental illness and/or psychotropic medication use. This study examined how weight change (kg) and body mass index (BMI) change (kg/m 2 ) of 1,420 participants were associated with mental health status and psychotropic medication use. Participants who took psychotropic medications did not gain more weight during incarceration compared to their counterparts who were not taking psychotropic medications (6.5 kg vs. 6.0 kg, p = 0.87, respectively). However, participants taking psychotropic medications were more likely to be overweight or obese, which means they already had higher BMI at the beginning of their incarceration as opposed to gaining more weight during incarceration. Weight gain of participants observed during incarceration in Canadian federal penitentiaries was not related to the higher prevalence of mental illness or psychotropic medication use.

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Exploring Carceral Food Systems as Sites of Contestation and Possibility in Canadian Federal Prisons: The Food Services Modernization Initiative

Wilson

2022

Crit Crim

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Centering the perspectives and lived experiences of incarcerated persons, this article considers the ways food is used as a tool and site of contestation and possibility within federal prisons in Canada. Focusing specifically on the implementation of and resistance to the Food Services Modernization Initiative, I explore food as “contested terrain” within carceral systems, making visible a range of tactics of resistance employed by incarcerated persons, from testimonials and official complaints to direct collective action. In analyzing these actions and narratives, I reflect on the importance of both food justice and prisoner justice to transforming carceral food systems and call for greater acknowledgment of carceral food systems within food movement discourses and campaigns.

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Canadian federal penitentiaries as obesogenic environments: a retrospective cohort study

Cited by 15 publications

References 19 publications

How did the tobacco ban increase inmates’ body weight during incarceration in Canadian federal penitentiaries? A cohort study

How did the tobacco ban increase inmates’ body weight during incarceration in Canadian federal penitentiaries? A cohort study

Weight Gain and Mental Health in the Canadian Prison Population

Exploring Carceral Food Systems as Sites of Contestation and Possibility in Canadian Federal Prisons: The Food Services Modernization Initiative

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