scholarly journals Physical Activity, Body Mass, and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Preschool Children: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in the Split-Dalmatia County (Croatia)

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (18) ◽  
pp. 3237
Author(s):  
Lejla Obradovic Salcin ◽  
Zeljka Karin ◽  
Vesna Miljanovic Damjanovic ◽  
Marko Ostojic ◽  
Andrea Vrdoljak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Preschool Age ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Random Factor ◽  
The Mediterranean

Physical activity, body mass, and dietary habits are known to be important determinants of overall health status, but there is an evident lack of studies that examine these issues specifically in preschool children. The aim of this study was to identify associations that may exist between adhering to the Mediterranean diet (MD), levels of physical activity (PA), and body composition indices in apparently healthy preschool children from southern Croatia. Participants were 5- to 6-year-old preschoolers from the Mediterranean part of the country (the Split-Dalmatia County; n = 260, 126 females). Adherence to the MD was observed by the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED), PA level was evaluated by the Preschool-age Children’s Physical Activity Questionnaire (Pre-PAQ), and responses were collected from the parents. The participants’ waist circumferences (in cm), waist-to-hip ratios, and body mass index (in kg/m2, and in a z-score calculated relative to the normative value for age and sex) were used as indicators of body composition. All children were of the same age and tested over a one-month period of the same year as a part of the regular examination undertaken before attending elementary school. With only 6% of the children having a low KIDMED score, adherence to the MD was high. MD adherence was higher in girls (Chi-square = 15.31, p < 0.01) and children who live on the coast of the Adriatic Sea (Chi-square = 18.51, p < 0.01). A mixed effects logistic regression (with kindergarten as random factor) identified sedentary activity to be negatively associated with MD adherence (OR per point: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.44–0.91). High adherence to the MD in the studied sample may be attributed to regulated feeding in kindergarten. Considering that most Croatian elementary schools do not provide food to their students, MD adherence should be investigated later in life and also in other parts of the country where the MD is culturally less prevalent.

scholarly journals Association between Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Physical Fitness with Body Composition Parameters in 1717 European Adolescents: The AdolesHealth Study

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Galan-Lopez ◽  
Antonio J. Sanchez-Oliver ◽  
Maret Pihu ◽  
Thórdís Gísladóttír ◽  
Raúl Domínguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Fat Percentage ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
The Mediterranean

Obesity, low levels of physical fitness, and unhealthy eating patterns are responsible for part of the health problems of adolescents today. The current study aimed at examining the association between the adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), through each answer to the items of the Adherence to the MD Questionnaire (KIDMED), and physical fitness with body composition parameters (body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat, and waist circumference) in 1717 European adolescents (N = 900 boys, N = 817 girls). Data of body composition, physical fitness results, and the answers to KIDMED were analyzed by the Student’s t-test. Additionally, the effect size (ES) was calculated and a Chi-square test analyzed the proportion of participants with and without over waist circumference, overfat, and overweight in each KIDMED question. The relative risk of suffering over waist circumference, overfat and overweight in relation to the responses was calculated by Odd-Ratio. Adherence to the MD did not influence the condition of over waist circumference, overfat and overweight, although certain dietary habits were identified as risk factors for their development. Over waist circumference, overfat, and overweight boys and girls presented higher levels of body mass, waist circumference, body fat percentage, and BMI (p < 0.001; ES = 1.73–3.38), as well as lower levels of all the parameters of the physical fitness analyzed (p < 0.001; ES = 0.45–1.08), except the handgrip test. A direct relationship between fitness and over waist circumference, overfat, and overweight was found.

scholarly journals Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Maternal Lifestyle during Pregnancy: Island–Mainland Differentiation in the CRIBS Birth Cohort

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2179
Author(s):  
Dubravka Havaš Auguštin ◽  
Jelena Šarac ◽  
Mario Lovrić ◽  
Jelena Živković ◽  
Olga Malev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Machine Learning ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Island Population ◽  
Learning Approach ◽  
Modifiable Factors ◽  
Machine Learning Approach ◽  
The Mediterranean

Maternal nutrition and lifestyle in pregnancy are important modifiable factors for both maternal and offspring’s health. Although the Mediterranean diet has beneficial effects on health, recent studies have shown low adherence in Europe. This study aimed to assess the Mediterranean diet adherence in 266 pregnant women from Dalmatia, Croatia and to investigate their lifestyle habits and regional differences. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed through two Mediterranean diet scores. Differences in maternal characteristics (diet, education, income, parity, smoking, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), physical activity, contraception) with regards to location and dietary habits were analyzed using the non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test. The machine learning approach was used to reveal other potential non-linear relationships. The results showed that adherence to the Mediterranean diet was low to moderate among the pregnant women in this study, with no significant mainland–island differences. The highest adherence was observed among wealthier women with generally healthier lifestyle choices. The most significant mainland–island differences were observed for lifestyle and socioeconomic factors (income, education, physical activity). The machine learning approach confirmed the findings of the conventional statistical method. We can conclude that adverse socioeconomic and lifestyle conditions were more pronounced in the island population, which, together with the observed non-Mediterranean dietary pattern, calls for more effective intervention strategies.

scholarly journals The Relationship Between Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Body Composition in Nutrition and Dietetic Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Servet Madencioğlu ◽  
Sevinç Yücecan
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Near East ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Nutrition And Dietetics ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractIntroductionThe determination of level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) in young adults has been investigated in countries situated near the Mediterranean region generally. The main purpose of this study were to determine differences in body composition by gender and level of adherence to the MD and to determine the relationship between body composition and level of adherence to the MD in Nutrition and Dietetics students at Near East University in Cyprus.Materials and MethodsThe study was conducted on 126 Nutrition and Dietetics students, aged 18 to 32 years. MDS was calculated, and then classified into three groups: good (36–55 points), moderate (21–35 points), and poor (0–20 points). Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance (BIA). Anthropometrical measurements; height (H), body weight (BW), waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference (HC) were assessed according to standardized procedures and physical activity (PA) was assessed by using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-short form). The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee at Near East University.ResultsAccording to study results 31.0% of students were found out to low adherence, while 69.0% of students had moderate adherence to the MD. There is no student had high adherence to the MD. There was no significant difference (p = 0.877) between the male and female students in terms of adherence to Mediterranean diet. The findings indicate that the eating habits of the Nutrition and Dietetics students, even those studying nutrition, are in need of improvement. The results show that 78.6% of students were normal and 21.4% of students were overweight and obese. Male students’ BW (p = 0.000), WC (p = 0.000) and HC (p = 0.015) were higher than females’, while female students’ fat mass (FM) (p = 0.000) was higher than males’. However, there is no significant difference between BW (p = 0.724), FM (p = 0.896), BMI (p = 0.691), WC (p = 0.632) and HC (p = 0.982) neither low adherence nor moderate adherence to the MD. Most of students minimal active according to IPAQ scores (41.2%) and there is no significant difference IPAQ score and adherence to the MD (p = 0.923).DiscussionOne of the healthiest diets worldwide is the traditional MD. Several studies have shown, that higher adherence to the MD is inversely related with BMI, waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHR). Little is known of how adherence to the MD is related to body composition, especially in university students. Further large-scale studies are required to clarify the relationship between adherence to the MD and body composition

scholarly journals Design and development of an instrument to measure overall lifestyle habits for epidemiological research: the Mediterranean Lifestyle (MEDLIFE) index

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 959-967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mercedes Sotos-Prieto ◽  
Belén Moreno-Franco ◽  
Jose M Ordovás ◽  
Montse León ◽  
Jose A Casasnovas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Study Cohort ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Lifestyle Habits ◽  
The Mediterranean

AbstractObjectiveTo design and develop a questionnaire that can account for an individual’s adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle including the assessment of diet and physical activity patterns, as well as social interaction.DesignThe Mediterranean Lifestyle (MEDLIFE) index was created based on the current Spanish Mediterranean food guide pyramid. MEDLIFE is a twenty-eight-item derived index consisting of questions about food consumption (fifteen items), traditional Mediterranean dietary habits (seven items) and physical activity, rest and social interaction habits (six items). Linear regression models and Spearman rank correlation were fitted to assess content validity and internal consistency.SettingA subset of participants in the Aragon Workers’ Health Study cohort (Zaragoza, Spain) provided the data for development of MEDLIFE.SubjectsParticipants (n 988) of the Aragon Workers’ Health Study cohort in Spain.ResultsMean MEDLIFE score was 11·3 (sd 2·6; range: 0–28), and the quintile distribution of MEDLIFE score showed a significant association with each of the individual items as well as with specific nutrients and lifestyle indicators (intra-validity). We also quantified MEDLIFE correspondence with previously reported diet quality indices and found significant correlations (ρ range: 0·44–0·53; P<0·001) for the Alternate Healthy Eating Index, the Alternate Mediterranean Diet Index and Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener.ConclusionsMEDLIFE is the first index to include an overall assessment of lifestyle habits. It is expected to be a more holistic tool to measure adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle in epidemiological studies.

scholarly journals Adherencia a la Dieta Mediterránea, Motivos para la Práctica de Ejercicio Físico y Composición Corporal en Adolescentes Islandeses (Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet, Motives for Physical Exercise and Body Composition in Icelandic Adolescents)

Retos ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 552-559
Author(s):  
Pablo Galan-Lopez ◽  
Thordis Gisladóttir ◽  
Francis Ries
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Physical Education Teachers ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Calidad De Vida ◽  
Grasa Corporal ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Dieta Mediterranea ◽  
Dieta Mediterránea

La adherencia a la dieta mediterránea (DM) y una práctica regular de ejercicio físico se asocian positivamente con una mejor calidad de vida y con una reducción de los niveles de sobrepeso, obesidad y patologías asociadas. El objetivo del presente estudio es analizar la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea, motivos para la práctica de ejercicio físico y posibles relaciones con los elementos de composición corporal (IMC, % Grasa Corporal y Circunferencia de Cintura) en 387 adolescentes islandeses (54% chicos, 46% chicas, Medad=15.03). Se realizaron análisis de Chi-cuadrado (χ2), t-Student y Anova. La adherencia a la DM de los sujetos se clasifica media/alta. Los valores más bajos se encontraron en sujetos de mayor edad. La práctica de ejercicio físico de los mismos participantes en este estudio responde a motivaciones intrínsecas (Diversión y Bienestar, Fuerza y Resistencia Muscular, Desafío, Competición, Agilidad y Flexibilidad, Afiliación, Prevención y Salud Positiva). La investigación arroja asociaciones entre adherencia a la DM y elementos de composición corporal; así como entre IMC y porcentaje de grasa con motivos de práctica de ejercicio físico (peso e imagen corporal). En conclusión, el conocimiento generado en la presente investigación hace posible la comprensión y el acercamiento en mayor profundidad a las motivaciones del alumnado participante, así como sus niveles de adherencia a la DM. Todo ello habrá de ser utilizado por los docentes de Educación Física (EF) para la planificación, diseño y desarrollo de su docencia.Abstract: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and regular practice of physical exercise are positively associated with better quality of life and with reduction of the levels of overweight, obesity, and associated pathologies. This study aims to analyze adherence to the Mediterranean diet, reasons for exercising and possible relationships with elements of body composition (BMI, Body Fat %, and Waist Circumference) in 387 Icelandic adolescents (54% boys, 46% Girls, Mage=15.03). Chi-Square (χ2), t-student test, and Anova analyses were performed. Subjects’ adherence to MD is classified as medium/high. The lowest values were found in older subjects. Physical exercise practice of the participants in this study responds to intrinsic motivations (Revitalization and Enjoyment, Strength and Endurance, Challenge, Competition, Nimbleness and Affiliation). The research shows associations between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and elements of body composition; as well as between BMI and percentage of fat with reasons of physical exercise practice (Weight Management and Body Image). In conclusion, the knowledge generated in this research makes possible to understand and approach with better precision participating students’ motivations, as well as their levels of adherence to the Mediterranean diet. All this will have to be used by Physical Education teachers for planning, designing and developing their teaching.

scholarly journals Diferencias en los estilos de vida de escolares españoles y migrantes | Lifestyle differences between Spanish national and migrant students

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (25) ◽  
pp. 40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raúl Jiménez Boraita ◽  
Josep María Dalmau Torres ◽  
Esther Gargallo Ibort ◽  
Daniel Arriscado Alsina
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Immigrant Population ◽  
Lifestyle Habits ◽  
Migrant Students ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
La Rioja ◽  
Dieta Mediterranea ◽  
Dieta Mediterránea

La población migrante constituye una parte importante de nuestra realidad social y escolar. Para favorecer su integración en el sistema educativo, es preciso conocer sus hábitos de vida. El objetivo del estudio fue analizarlos y compararlos con los de sus pares españoles. Se seleccionó una muestra representativa de alumnos de sexto de Educación Primaria de Logroño (La Rioja), obteniendo un total de 329 escolares de los 31 centros de la ciudad. Se les administraron cuestionarios de actividad física (PAQ-C), adherencia a la dieta mediterránea (KIDMED), características demográficas y hábitos de vida. También se valoró su composición corporal y condición física.  El alumnado migrante tenía un nivel socioeconómico y cultural más bajo, además de una menor asistencia al comedor y menor práctica de actividad deportiva organizada. A pesar de esto último, no hubo diferencias en los niveles de actividad física o en la capacidad aeróbica. Por otro lado, reportaron una menor adherencia a la dieta mediterránea, sin embargo, no hubo diferencias en la composición corporal. Por último, pasaban más horas frente a la pantalla y dormían menos por la noche, variables que podrían estar relacionadas. Las intervenciones sanitarias y educativas deberían valorar estos resultados para favorecer la plena inclusión de la población migrante.AbstractThe immigrant population constitutes an important part of society in both social and educational contexts. In order to assist in the integration of migrants into the education system, it is crucial to understand their lifestyle habits. The objective of the present study was to analyze and compare lifestyle habits between migrants and their Spanish counterparts. A representative sample of 329 students attending the sixth year of primary school was recruited from 31 educational centers in the city of Logroño (La Rioja). Participants self-reported their physical activity (PAQ-C), adherence to the Mediterranean diet (KIDMED), demographic characteristics and lifestyle habits. Data for body composition and physical condition were also collected. Students from an immigrant background reported a lower socioeconomic status and cultural status, besides in reduced attendance to school dining rooms and reduce their engagement in physical activity. With regards to physical activity, there were no differences between Spanish national or migrant students in levels of physical activity or in aerobic capacity. On the other hand, migrant students did report a lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Despite this finding, no differences in body composition were reported. Finally, immigrant students reported a higher screen time and slept fewer hours per night, outcomes which could be intrinsically related. The findings of the present research have implications for the development of health and/or educative interventions for the complete integration of the immigrant population.

scholarly journals Mediterranean Diet and physical activity in Romanian and Spanish university students - a comparative study

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 172-178
Author(s):  
G. Badicu ◽  
C.R. Chacón ◽  
F. Zurita-Ortega ◽  
M. Castro-Sanchez ◽  
L. Balint
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Poor Adherence ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Arithmetic Average ◽  
Diet And Physical Activity ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Student’S T

Purpose: The main purpose of this research was to show if there are differences between the Mediterranean diet and physical activity in students from Romania and Spain. Material: The study was carried out on a sample of 567 participants, 149 of which (24.69%) are from Romania (Transilvania University of Braşov) and 427 (75.31%) are students from Spain (University of Granada ). To evaluate adherence to the Mediterranean diet we used The Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED), and for the assessment of the level of physical activity, we used the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A). The reliability of the KIDMED was good (Cronbach’s α = 0.83) and for PAQ-A is 0.874. Statistical analyses were done through program IBM SPSS Statistics 22. The statistical indicators used in this study, were the following: standard deviation (SD), arithmetic average (X), chi-square test, Student’s T-test (t), percent%, Levene’s test, ANOVA One-Way. Results: The results of the variance analysis showed that there is no statistically significant relationship between the adherence to the Mediterranean diet and physical activity in Romanian students (F=0.517; p=0.598), or in Spanish students (F=0.255; p=0.775). Also, the results regarding adherence to the MD and PA was: poor adherence , n=31, (mean=29.06; standard deviation=3.723), average adherence , n=275, (mean=28.62; standard deviation=3.386), and high adherence, n=261 (mean=28.50; standard deviation=3.779). Conclusions: This study highlighted the fact that there are no significant differences regarding the adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the level of physical activity between the two countries (Romania and Spain). Unlike Spanish students, we found that Romanian students have a poor adherence to the MD.

scholarly journals Eating habits and lifestyle Changes during COVID-19 lockdown: an Italian survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Di Renzo ◽  
Paola Gualtieri ◽  
Francesca Pivari ◽  
Laura Soldati ◽  
Alda Attinà ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Population Group ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Italian Population ◽  
Time Data ◽  
The Mediterranean

Abstract Background: On December 12, 2019 a new coronavirus (SARS-Cov2) emerged in Wuhan, China, sparking a pandemic of acute respiratory syndrome in humans (COVID-19). At 24th of April 2020, the number of COVID-19 deaths in the world, according to the COVID-Case Tracker by Johns Hopkins University, was 195,313 and the number of Covid-19 confirmed cases was 2,783,512. The COVID-19 pandemic represents a massive impact on human health, causing sudden lifestyle changes, through social distancing and isolation at home, with social and economic consequences. Optimizing public health during this pandemic requires not only knowledge from the medical and biological sciences, but also of all human sciences related to lifestyle, social and behavioural studies, including dietary habits and lifestyle. Methods: Our study aimed to investigate the immediate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating habits and lifestyle changes among Italian population aged ≥12 years. The study instrument comprised a structured questionnaire packet that inquired demographic information (age, gender, place of residence, current employment); anthropometrics data (reported weight and height); dietary habits information (Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet, daily intake of certain foods, food frequency, number of meals/day); lifestyle habits information (grocery shopping, smoke habit, sleep quality and physical activity). The survey was conducted from 5th to 24th of April 2020. Results: the perception of weight gain was observed in 48.6% of the population; 3.3% of smokers decided to quit smoking; a slight increased physical activity has been reported, especially for bodyweight training, in 38.3% of respondents; the population group aged 18-30 years resulted to have a higher adherence to the Mediterranean Diet when compared to the youngers and the olders (p=0.000; p=0.000); 15% of respondents turned to farmers or organic purchasing groups for fruit and vegetables, especially in North and Center Italy, where BMI values were lower. Conclusions: In the present study, we provided for the first time data on the Italian population lifestyle, eating habits and adherence to the Mediterranean Diet pattern during the COVID-19 lockdown. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, our data need to be confirmed and investigated in future larger population studies.

scholarly journals Physical Activity and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet among Spanish Employees in a Health-Promotion Program before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Sanitas-Healthy Cities Challenge

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2735
Author(s):  
Evelia Franco ◽  
Jesús Urosa ◽  
Rubén Barakat ◽  
Ignacio Refoyo
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Health Promotion Program ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
Healthy Cities ◽  
Sedentary Behaviors ◽  
Promotion Program ◽  
The Mediterranean

Physical activity and a healthy diet are key factors for avoiding major noncommunicable diseases. The aim of the present study was to analyze how physical activity (PA) and adherence to the Mediterranean diet among employees participating in the Healthy Cities program have been affected during confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample was composed of 297 employees from 40 leading companies based in Spain, who participated in the 5th edition of the Sanitas “Healthy Cities” challenge. The participants (148 women and 149 men), aged between 24 and 63 years old (M = 42.76; SD = 7.79) completed the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the PREDIMED (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) questionnaire to measure adherence to the Mediterranean diet before and during the pandemic. Pearson χ2 tests revealed that workers were more likely to show sedentary behaviors during the pandemic than before (83.5% vs. 66.7%). Additionally, they were more likely to reach high levels of PA (51.2% vs. 64%), and Wilcoxon tests revealed that energy expenditure measured in Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) was higher during the pandemic (4199.03 METs) than before (3735.32 METs), due to an increase in moderate PA. Lastly, a higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet during the pandemic (76.4%) than before (54.5%) was reported. The findings of this investigation suggest a positive effect of working from home for employees involved in a health-promotion program, and highlight the relevance of this kind of action among this population.

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