Mediterranean diet adherence among adolescents in North Lebanon: the role of skipping meals, meals with the family, physical activity, and physical wellbeing

Abstract The Mediterranean diet (MD) is a model of a healthy diet and healthy lifestyle. Adherence to the MD has been correlated with a reduction in many metabolic disorders including cancers. The factors associated with adolescents’ adherence to the MD in North Lebanon using the KIDMED index have never been explored. Therefore, we thought to examine these factors among a sample of them. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the city of Tripoli, North Lebanon. A total of 798 adolescents aged 11-18 years were randomly selected to participate in this study. All participants completed a questionnaire assessing adherence to the MD (KIDMED index), physical activity (physical activity questionnaires for older children [PAQ-C] and adolescents [PAQ-A]), health-related quality of life (KIDSCREEN-27 index) and sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, grade level and parents’ educational status). Anthropometric measurements, including weight, height and waist circumference, were also collected. Adherence to the MD was good among only 13.3% of the adolescents. The prevalence rate of overweight and obesity was elevated, affecting 36.9% of the students. Lower adherence to the MD was significantly correlated with skipping meals (p=0.001). Meanwhile, adolescents who were engaged in a high level of physical activity, those who consumed more meals with their families and those who benefited from better physical wellbeing had a better diet quality (p<0.001). Nutrition intervention programmes, as well as public health policies, would be of interest in order to improve diet quality among Lebanese adolescents.

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Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Its Association with the Level of Physical Activity in Fitness Center Users: Croatian-Based Study

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13114038 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 4038

Author(s):

Dinko Martinovic ◽

Daria Tokic ◽

Lovre Martinovic ◽

Marko Kumric ◽

Marino Vilovic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Short Form ◽

Well Being ◽

General Information ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Fitness Center ◽

Balanced Diet ◽

The Mediterranean

The Mediterranean diet (MD) is based on the traditional cuisine of south European countries, and it is considered one of the healthiest dietary patterns worldwide. The promotion of combined MD and physical activity has shown major benefits. However, the association between physical activity and the MD in regular fitness center users is still insufficiently investigated. This cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted on 1220 fitness center users in Croatia. The survey consisted of three parts: general information, the Mediterranean Diet Serving Score (MDSS) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF). The results showed that 18.6% of fitness center users were adherent to the MD, and there was a significant positive correlation between the level of physical activity and the MDSS score (r = 0.302, p < 0.001). Moreover, after dividing the sample into tertiles based on the IPAQ-SF score, the third tertile (MET > 3150 min/wk) had the most fitness center users (34.4%) adherent to the MD, while the first tertile (MET < 1750 min/wk) had the least (6.1%). These outcomes emphasize the importance of physical activity as they imply that, with higher levels of physical activity, people are also possibly more aware of the importance that a healthy and balanced diet has on their well-being.

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Relationships between physical activity, food choices, gender and BMI in Southern Californian teenagers

International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health ◽

10.1515/ijamh-2017-0067 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 31 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jaclyn B. Gaylis ◽

Susan S. Levy ◽

Shiloah Kviatkovsky ◽

Rebecca DeHamer ◽

Mee Young Hong

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Food Choices ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Red Meat ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Healthy Food ◽

Processed Meat ◽

Healthy Weight ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstract Given the increased prevalence of pediatric obesity and risk of developing chronic disease, there has been great interest in preventing these conditions during childhood by focusing on healthy lifestyle habits, including nutritious eating and physical activity (PA). The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between PA, body mass index (BMI) and food choices in adolescent males and females. This cross-sectional study, using a survey questionnaire, evaluated 1212 Southern Californian adolescents’ self-reported PA, BMI and food frequency. Results revealed that even though males are more active than females, they have higher BMI percentile values (p < 0.05). Females consumed salad, vegetables and fruit more frequently than males (p < 0.05), where males consumed hamburgers, pizza, red meat, processed meat, eggs, fish, fruit juice, soda and whole milk more frequently than females (p < 0.05). Overweight/obese teens consumed red meat, processed meat and cheese more frequently than healthy weight teens (p < 0.05), yet there was no difference in PA between healthy and overweight/obese teens. These results demonstrate that higher levels of PA may not counteract an unhealthy diet. Even though PA provides numerous metabolic and health benefits, this study suggests that healthy food choices may have a protective effect against overweight and obesity. Healthy food choices, along with PA, should be advocated to improve adolescent health by encouraging maintenance of a healthy weight into adulthood.

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Does Eating Addiction Favor a More Varied Diet or Contribute to Obesity?—The Case of Polish Adults

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12051304 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 1304

Author(s):

Marzena Jezewska-Zychowicz ◽

Aleksandra Małachowska ◽

Marta Plichta

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Food Intake ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Sociodemographic Factors ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Varied Diet ◽

Main Determinants

The rapidly increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity indicates a need to search for their main causes. Addictive-like eating and associated eating patterns might result in overconsumption, leading to weight gain. The aim of the study was to identify the main determinants of food intake variety (FIV) within eating addiction (EA), other lifestyle components, and sociodemographic characteristics. The data for the study were collected from a sample of 898 Polish adults through a cross-sectional survey in 2019. The questionnaire used in the study included Food Intake Variety Questionnaire (FIVeQ), Eating Preoccupation Scale (EPS), and questions regarding lifestyle and sociodemographic factors. High eating addiction was found in more than half of the people with obesity (54.2%). In the study sample, physical activity at leisure time explained FIV in the greatest manner, followed by the EPS factor: eating to provide pleasure and mood improvement. In the group of people with obesity, the score for this EPS factor was the best predictor of FIV, in that a higher score was conducive to a greater variety of food intake. Sociodemographic characteristics differentiated FIV only within groups with normal body weight (age) and with overweight (education). In conclusion, food intake variety (FIV) was associated with physical activity at leisure time, and then with EPS factor “Eating to provide pleasure and mood improvement”, whereas sociodemographic characteristics were predictors of FIV only within groups identified by body mass index (BMI). Nevertheless, our observations regarding the eating to provide pleasure and mood improvement factor and its associations with food intake variety indicate a need for further research in this area. Future studies should also use other tools to explicitly explain this correlation.

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Analysis of Motivational Climate, Emotional Intelligence, and Healthy Habits in Physical Education Teachers of the Future Using Structural Equations

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11133740 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (13) ◽

pp. 3740 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Gabriel González-Valero ◽

Félix Zurita-Ortega ◽

Ramón Chacón-Cuberos ◽

Pilar Puertas-Molero

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Emotional Intelligence ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Fat Mass ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Motivational Climate ◽

Structural Equations ◽

Cross Sectional

This study developed a Structural Equation Model (SEM) in order to identify the associations between motivational climate, emotional intelligence, adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD), Physical Activity (PA), and some health indicators in a sample of future teachers. A non-experimental and cross-sectional study was carried in 775 university students (22.22 ± 3.76), using as main scales the Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire (PMCSQ-2), Emotional Intelligence Inventory adapted for the sport context, Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A), Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED), 20 meter Shuttle Run Test (20mSRT), and percentage of lean and fat mass as calculated by the Tanita TBF300®® (Tanita-Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) electronic scale. The results showed a positive association between emotional intelligence and task climate, whereas the relationship with an ego climate was low. Ego-oriented climate was positively related to MD and high levels of PA. Emotional intelligence was directly related to higher levels of PA and the level of adherence to MD. PA was negatively associated with fat mass and positively with lean mass and VO2MAX. Task-oriented motivational climate showed a positive relation with the emotional intelligence of young people. Ego-oriented motivational climates were related to higher rates of physical-sport engagement and better diet quality.

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Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and the Risk of Overweight and Obesity in School-Aged Children

Pediatric Exercise Science ◽

10.1123/pes.2016-0234 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 408-418 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Eimear Keane ◽

Xia Li ◽

Janas M. Harrington ◽

Anthony P. Fitzgerald ◽

Ivan J. Perry ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Screen Time ◽

Sedentary Time ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Independent Association

Purpose:Globally, public health policies are targeting modifiable lifestyle behaviors. We explore the independent association of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior on the risk of childhood overweight/obesity.Method:A cross-sectional survey of children aged 8–11 years (N = 826). Objective body mass index was used to classify children as normal weight or overweight/obese. Children wore wrist-worn Geneactiv accelerometers for 7-days and thresholds were applied to categorize MVPA and sedentary time. Screen time (ST) was parent reported. Poisson regression examined the independent association of (1) MVPA (2), objective sedentary time and (3) ST on the risk of overweight/obesity.Results:Overall, 23.7% (95% CI, 20.8–26.6%) of children were overweight/obese. On average, children spent 10.8% of waking time at MVPA and 61.3% sedentary. One-fifth (22.1%, 95% CI, 19.3–25.0%) of children achieved MVPA recommendations (≥ 60 min each day) and 17.5% (95% CI, 14.9–20.1%) met ST recommendations (<2 hr per day). Time spent at MVPA was inversely associated with the risk of overweight/obese independent of total sedentary time. Total time spent sedentary was not associated with overweight/obese independent of MVPA. ST was associated with an increased risk of overweight/obese independent of physical activity.Conclusion:Few schoolchildren met physical activity and screen time recommendations suggesting population based measures are needed.

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Influence of Adiposity on Physical Activity in Schoolchildren: The Moderator Role of Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12166474 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (16) ◽

pp. 6474

Author(s):

José Francisco López-Gil ◽

Antonio García-Hermoso ◽

Rafael Gomes Sentone ◽

Cristiano Israel Caetano ◽

Fernando Renato Cavichiolli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Food Habits ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Excess Adiposity ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Moderator Role ◽

Associative Analysis

Background: Studies were performed in order to determine the existing relationship between body composition and both physical activity (PA) levels and food habits. Nevertheless, no study has yet examined if the association between adiposity and PA in children is moderated by adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD). Methods: the cross-sectional and associative analysis involved a total of 370 children (55.1% boys) aged 6–13, from six different schools from the Murcia region of Spain. Results: The different values of moderator [adherence to the MD expressed as a Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) score] are shown by the slope and the different areas of significance. The first area was shown below ≤3.8, indicating that the unfavorable influence of excess of adiposity on PA could be intensified for children in this area. The second area was a significant positive area was shown above ≥9.3, expressing that the unfavorable influence of adiposity could be reduced for those who were above this estimation point. Conclusion: Our findings reveal that the adverse effects of excess adiposity on PA can be moderated by adherence to the MD among schoolchildren.

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Food, youth and the Mediterranean diet in Spain. Development of KIDMED, Mediterranean Diet Quality Index in children and adolescents

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1079/phn2004556 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 7 (7) ◽

pp. 931-935 ◽

Cited By ~ 444

Author(s):

Lluís Serra-Majem ◽

Lourdes Ribas ◽

Joy Ngo ◽

Rosa M Ortega ◽

Alicia García ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Dietary Patterns ◽

Quality Index ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Geographical Differences ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Diet Quality Index ◽

Kidmed Index

AbstractObjective:To evaluate dietary habits in Spanish children and adolescents based on a Mediterranean Diet Quality Index tool, which considers certain principles sustaining and challenging traditional healthy Mediterranean dietary patterns.Design:Observational population-based cross-sectional study. A 16-item Mediterranean Diet Quality Index was included in data gathered for the EnKid study (in which two 24-hour recalls, a quantitative 169-item food-frequency questionnaire and a general questionnaire about socio-economic, demographic and lifestyle items were administered).Setting:Spain.Subjects:In total, 3850 children and youths aged 2–24 years residing in Spain.Results:Of the sample, 4.2% showed very low KIDMED index results, 49.4% had intermediate values and 46.4% had high index results. Important geographical differences were seen, with subjects from the Northeast showing the most favourable outcomes (52% with elevated scores vs. 37.5% of those from the North). Lower percentages of high diet quality were observed in low socio-economic groups, compared with middle and upper income cohorts (42.8%, 47.6% and 54.9%, respectively). Large cities had more positive results and only slight variations were seen for gender and age.Conclusions:The KIDMED index, the first to evaluate the adequacy of Mediterranean dietary patterns in children and youth, confirms that this collective is undergoing important changes, which makes them a priority target for nutrition interventions. Results challenge certain commonly perceived notions tied to income level, population size and diet quality.

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Inequalities in diet and physical activity in Europe

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1079/phn2001160 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 4 (2b) ◽

pp. 701-709 ◽

Cited By ~ 108

Author(s):

Elizabeth Dowler

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Economic Status ◽

Outcome Data ◽

Economic Conditions ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Diet And Physical Activity ◽

Food Patterns ◽

Physical Wellbeing ◽

Material Conditions

AbstractThe contribution of food, nutrition and physical activity to inequalities in health across Europe is largely unexplored. This paper summarizes cross sectional survey data on food patterns and nutrient intakes, and briefer data on physical activity, by various indicators of socio-economic status for countries across Europe. Factors are examined which underlie the outcome data seen. These include structural and material conditions and circumstances which contribute to excluding sociodemographic groups from participating in mainstream patterns of living. Trends in social and economic conditions, and their implications for nutritional and physical wellbeing are briefly outlined.

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Determinants of Physical Activity Performed by Young Adults

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16214061 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (21) ◽

pp. 4061 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

García-Fernández ◽

González-López ◽

Vilches-Arenas ◽

Lomas-Campos

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Young Adults ◽

Health Status ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Perceived Health ◽

World Health ◽

Perceived Health Status ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional

Despite the World Health Organization considering it important to promote physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle, the official data show an increase in the percentage of physical inactivity, which has brought about the development of strategies at different levels (national and international) to reverse this trend. For the development of these strategies, it is relevant to know what the determinants of physical activity (at leisure and at work) are. Therefore, this is going to be analysed in the autochthonous young adults from Seville. A cross-sectional survey of their health behaviours was carried out. The sample was selected through a proportionally stratified random sampling procedure. From the results, we highlight that the general perceived health status is good and that most physical activity is performed during leisure time. However, a majority of the population analysed reported overweight or obesity. Participants with a low perceived health status, those who have low social support from their family and friends, and those who do not smoke are the ones who have more probability of engaging in physical activity during their leisure time. However, gender, education level, and alcohol consumption are revealed as determinants of the intensity of physical activity at work. In this regard, men and/or participants with a low level of studies are those who carry out more physically demanding activities at work.

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Emerging obesity and dietary habits among James Bay Cree youth

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980010000406 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 1829-1837 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Cynthia Bou Khalil ◽

Louise Johnson-Down ◽

Grace M Egeland

Keyword(s):

Total Energy ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Saturated Fat ◽

Healthy Eating Index ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Fat Intake ◽

Dietary Interventions ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional

AbstractObjectiveTo describe dietary habits and extent of overweight and obesity among Cree youth.DesignDietary intake and habits were assessed by a 24 h recall and FFQ as part of a cross-sectional survey.SettingThree Cree communities in northern Québec, Canada.SubjectsA total of 125 youth aged 9–18 years.ResultsOverall 67·6 % of the study population was either at risk of overweight or overweight. Over 98 % had a usual saturated fat intake over 10 % of energy while 65 % had a lower consumption of fruit/vegetables and 95 % had a lower consumption of milk and milk products than recommended by Canada’s Food Guide. The majority (96·8 %) consumed high-fat foods (>40 % of total energy as fat), which accounted for 39 % of total energy intake (EI). Similarly, 92·8 % consumed high-sugar food and beverages (>25 % of total energy as sugar), which accounted for 12·8 % of total EI. Furthermore, 95 % of the youth had a Healthy Eating Index (HEI) below the recommended score of 80 or above. Certain measures of diet quality (traditional food (TF) consumption, HEI and vegetables and fruit consumption) were significantly correlated with adiposity measures.ConclusionsA high prevalence of low-diet quality was found with a high degree of sugar and fat intake and a low consumption of vegetables/fruit and milk/milk alternates and any weekly TF. Dietary interventions are sorely needed.

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