In this cross-sectional web-survey, carried out in 340 employees (24–67 years) among university staff of Southern Italy, we assessed the adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD). Using an online questionnaire based on validated 14-point MD Adherence Screener (MEDAS), the mean of the score was 7.34 (±1.9) for total population independently of sex. In population divided by the cut-off age of 45 years, MD adherence resulted significantly lower in younger respect to older group (p =.003). In multiple regression analyses we observed the direct association between MEDAS score and older age group also after adjustments. Importantly, in all sample the percentage of adherers to recommendations for fruits, nuts and fish resulted outside dietary guidelines. The present findings underscore the need to develop healthy education programmes aimed to improve the consumption of several components of the MD, particularly among young adults, in order to prevent the early onset of chronic non-transmittable diseases.

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet pattern among university staff: a cross-sectional web-based epidemiological study in Southern Italy

Giordano C.;Lofaro D.;Barone I.;Morelli C.;Sisci D.;Catalano S.;Ando S.;Bonofiglio D.
2019-01-01

Abstract

In this cross-sectional web-survey, carried out in 340 employees (24–67 years) among university staff of Southern Italy, we assessed the adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD). Using an online questionnaire based on validated 14-point MD Adherence Screener (MEDAS), the mean of the score was 7.34 (±1.9) for total population independently of sex. In population divided by the cut-off age of 45 years, MD adherence resulted significantly lower in younger respect to older group (p =.003). In multiple regression analyses we observed the direct association between MEDAS score and older age group also after adjustments. Importantly, in all sample the percentage of adherers to recommendations for fruits, nuts and fish resulted outside dietary guidelines. The present findings underscore the need to develop healthy education programmes aimed to improve the consumption of several components of the MD, particularly among young adults, in order to prevent the early onset of chronic non-transmittable diseases.
2019
dietary compliance; healthy lifestyle; Mediterranean diet; Mediterranean diet adherence screener; web survey
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11770/298783
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 23
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 23
social impact