BACKGROUND: To evaluate the adherence to Mediterranean diet (MD) and its major socioeconomic and psychosocial determinants in a large sample of the Italian population, covering three main geographical areas of the Country (Southern, Central and Northern). METHODS: Data were obtained from the Italian Nutrition & Health Survey (INHES), including a total of 7, 430 participants (age >20) recruited from all over Italy (2010-13). Dietary information was collected by the European Food Propensity Questionnaire. Adherence to MD was assessed by using the MedDietScore based on 11 food groups. Associations were tested by multivariable logistic regression analysis (Odds ratio [OR] with 95% CI). RESULTS: Adherence to MD was higher in Southern Italy as compared with the Northern (OR = 1.34; 95% CI 1.18-1.53), and was closely associated with adult age (OR= 2.40; 1.61-3.58 for those aged > 75 years as compared with 20-34 years) and higher educational level (OR = 1.77; 1.40-2.24 for post-secondary education as opposed to lowest educational attainment). Subjects reporting adverse life events and those with family-related stress were less likely to show an optimal adherence to MD (OR = 0.55; 0.46-0.67 and OR = 0.44; 0.28-0.69, for highest vs. lowest tertile, respectively) as compared with adequate controls. A number of eating behaviours were also inversely associated with MD, such as consuming higher amount of alcohol in the weekend than in week days. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to MD is strongly determined by age, geographical area and educational level. Psychosocial factors and several eating behaviours are also closely associated.
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the adherence to Mediterranean diet (MD) and its major socioeconomic and psychosocial determinants in a large sample of the Italian population, covering three main geographical areas of the Country (Southern, Central and Northern). METHODS: Data were obtained from the Italian Nutrition & Health Survey (INHES), including a total of 7, 430 participants (age >20) recruited from all over Italy (2010-13). Dietary information was collected by the European Food Propensity Questionnaire. Adherence to MD was assessed by using the MedDietScore based on 11 food groups. Associations were tested by multivariable logistic regression analysis (Odds ratio [OR] with 95% CI). RESULTS: Adherence to MD was higher in Southern Italy as compared with the Northern (OR = 1.34; 95% CI 1.18-1.53), and was closely associated with adult age (OR= 2.40; 1.61-3.58 for those aged > 75 years as compared with 20-34 years) and higher educational level (OR = 1.77; 1.40-2.24 for post-secondary education as opposed to lowest educational attainment). Subjects reporting adverse life events and those with family-related stress were less likely to show an optimal adherence to MD (OR = 0.55; 0.46-0.67 and OR = 0.44; 0.28-0.69, for highest vs. lowest tertile, respectively) as compared with adequate controls. A number of eating behaviours were also inversely associated with MD, such as consuming higher amount of alcohol in the weekend than in week days. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to MD is strongly determined by age, geographical area and educational level. Psychosocial factors and several eating behaviours are also closely associated.
Authors: Marialaura Bonaccio; Simona Costanzo; Emilia Ruggiero; Mariarosaria Persichillo; Simona Esposito; Marco Olivieri; Augusto Di Castelnuovo; Chiara Cerletti; Maria Benedetta Donati; Giovanni de Gaetano; Licia Iacoviello Journal: Public Health Nutr Date: 2021-03-05 Impact factor: 4.022
Authors: Hélio J Coelho-Junior; Riccardo Calvani; Anna Picca; Ivan O Gonçalves; Francesco Landi; Roberto Bernabei; Matteo Cesari; Marco C Uchida; Emanuele Marzetti Journal: Nutrients Date: 2020-06-01 Impact factor: 5.717
Authors: Virginia Vettori; Chiara Lorini; Heather D Gibbs; Francesco Sofi; Vieri Lastrucci; Gino Sartor; Ilaria Fulvi; Duccio Giorgetti; Giuseppe Cavallo; Guglielmo Bonaccorsi Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-30 Impact factor: 3.390