scholarly journals Associations between the Mediterranean Diet Pattern and Weight Status and Cognitive Development in Preschool Children

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 3723
Author(s):  
Federico Granziera ◽  
Maria Angela Guzzardi ◽  
Patricia Iozzo
Keyword(s):  
Preschool Children ◽  
Cognitive Development ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Practical Reasoning ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
White Meat ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
And Gender

Cognitive dysfunctions are a global health concern. Early-life diet and weight status may contribute to children’s cognitive development. For this reason, we explored the associations between habitual food consumption, body mass index (BMI) and cognitive outcomes in 54 preschool children belonging to the Pisa birth Cohort (PISAC). We estimated groups of foods, nutrients and calorie intakes through a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and Italian national databases. Then, we adopted the Mediterranean diet (MD) score to assess relative MD adherence. Cognition was examined using the Griffiths Mental Development Scales-Extended Revised (GMDS-ER). We found that higher, compared to low and moderate, adherence to MD was associated with higher performance scores. Furthermore, white meat consumption was positively related to BMI, and BMI (age–gender specific, z-scores) categories were negatively related to practical reasoning scores. All associations were independent of maternal IQ estimates, parents’ socioeconomic status, exclusive/non-exclusive breastfeeding, actual age at cognitive assessment and gender. In conclusion, in preschool children, very high adherence to MD seemed protective, whereas BMI (reinforced by the intake of white meat) was negatively associated with cognition.

scholarly journals Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet is Associated with Better Sleep Quality in Italian Adults

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Godos ◽  
Raffaele Ferri ◽  
Filippo Caraci ◽  
Filomena Irene Ilaria Cosentino ◽  
Sabrina Castellano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Food Frequency ◽  
Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index ◽  
Point Increase ◽  
High Adherence ◽  
Logistic Regressions ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Diet Score

Background: Sleep quality has been associated with human health and diseases, including cognitive decline and dementia; however major determinants of sleep disorders are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between sleep quality and adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern in a sample of Italian adults. Methods: A total of 1936 individuals were recruited in the urban area of Catania during 2014–2015 through random sampling. A food frequency questionnaire and validated instruments were used to assess the adherence to the Mediterranean diet and sleep quality (Pittsburg sleep quality index). Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to determine the association between exposure and outcome. Results: A total of 1314 individuals (67.9% of the cohort) reported adequate sleep quality: for each point increase of the Mediterranean diet score, individuals were 10% more likely to have adequate sleep quality. In an additional analysis stratifying the sample by weight status, the association between sleep quality and high adherence to the Mediterranean diet was observed only among normal/overweight individuals but not in obese participants. Conclusions: high adherence to a Mediterranean diet is associated with better sleep quality either toward direct effect on health or indirect effects through improvement of weight status.

scholarly journals Nutrition information, Mediterranean diet, and weight: A structural equation approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 10-18
Author(s):  
Alessia Cavaliere ◽  
Elena Siletti ◽  
Alessandro Banterle
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Healthy Weight ◽  
Food Label ◽  
Nutritional Knowledge ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Related Information ◽  
The Mediterranean

This paper studies the relationships between adherence to the Mediterranean diet, food-related information, and possible effects they could jointly exert on weight status. The empirical analysis was conducted via a consumer survey using face-to-face interviews, and a structural equation model was implemented to the data analysis. This model choice was led by its ability to simultaneously evaluate multiple constructs. The results outline the central role played by adherence to the Mediterranean diet and food-related information, both in terms of nutritional knowledge and expert recommendations, which seem to be the key drivers affecting healthy weight. Moreover, food label use increases the nutritional knowledge of consumers, which in turn favours a healthy diet. 

scholarly journals Weight Status, Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet, and Physical Fitness in Spanish Children and Adolescents: The Active Health Study

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Manzano-Carrasco ◽  
Jose Luis Felipe ◽  
Javier Sanchez-Sanchez ◽  
Antonio Hernandez-Martin ◽  
Leonor Gallardo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Muscular Strength ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
The Body ◽  
Health Study ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Optimal Adherence

The aim of this study was to analyze the differences in body composition and physical fitness according to the weight status (normoweight, overweight and obese) and the level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD; low, medium or high), in physically active children and adolescents. Furthermore, this study also analyzed the relationship between body composition and physical fitness with Body Mass Index (BMI), fat mass and the level of adherence to the MD. In total, 1676 participants aged 6–17 from different municipal sports schools participated in this cross-sectional study. Data on adherence to the MD (a KIDMED questionnaire), anthropometric measurements, body composition and physical fitness parameters (the 20-m shuttle run test and muscular strength) were collected. A total of 43.5% of the sample were presented as overweight and obese, and only 35.7% had high or optimal adherence to the MD. The results revealed that a normoweight status was associated with greater cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.05; ES: 0.50 to 0.67) and lower-body muscular strength (p < 0.05; ES: 0.58 to 1.10). The overweight group showed more significant results than the other groups in handgrip strength (p < 0.01). Greater adherence to the MD in this population indicated better physical fitness, but only in boys. It is concluded that normoweight status and optimal adherence to the MD in children and adolescents are associated with health benefits, which are significant in the body composition and the effect on physical fitness.

Adherence to the mediterranean diet among preschool children in Dalmatia County

2021 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. S731
Author(s):  
M. Selak ◽  
D. Bučan Nenadić ◽  
E. Kolak ◽  
J. Radić
Keyword(s):  
Preschool Children ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
The Mediterranean

Breast cancer prevention in premenopausal women: role of the Mediterranean diet and its components

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Laudisio ◽  
Luigi Barrea ◽  
Giovanna Muscogiuri ◽  
Giuseppe Annunziata ◽  
Annamaria Colao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Prevention ◽  
Postmenopausal Women ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Premenopausal Women ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Risk Of Cancer

AbstractBreast cancer (BC) is a growing public health concern in most developed and developing countries. Since an increasing number of patients with BC are diagnosed before the menopause and premenopausal women show a more aggressive phenotype, there is consistent interest in promoting prevention strategies in order to reduce the incidence of BC in the premenopause. The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been reported to have beneficial effect in terms of cancer prevention. This healthy dietary pattern consists primarily of foods having important antioxidant properties along with a favourable fatty acid profile, all associated with a reduced risk of cancer. Due to the large variability in study subject characteristics, the protective role of the MD on BC still remains controversial and studies that have investigated the association between adherence to the MD and risk of BC in premenopausal women are fewer than those in postmenopausal women. In addition, the possibility that the beneficial effects of the MD are due to a single component or might more probably derive from the synergic effects of all components of the MD remains a scantly explored field. Considering the increased risk of recurrence and mortality rate of BC in premenopausal women as compared with postmenopausal women, the aim of the present report is to provide a general overview of the current evidence on the relationship between BC and the MD specifically in premenopausal women, and to emphasise the potential role of the MD as an effective measure to reduce the risk of developing BC in premenopausal women.

scholarly journals Screen Time and Parents’ Education Level Are Associated with Poor Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Spanish Children and Adolescents: The PASOS Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 795
Author(s):  
Julia Wärnberg ◽  
Napoleón Pérez-Farinós ◽  
Juan Carlos Benavente-Marín ◽  
Santiago Felipe Gómez ◽  
Idoia Labayen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Education Levels ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Parents Education

The aim of this study is to evaluate if screen time and parents’ education levels are associated with adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern. This cross-sectional study analyzed a representative sample of 3333 children and adolescents (8 to 16 years) included in the Physical Activity, Sedentarism, lifestyles and Obesity in Spanish youth (PASOS) study in Spain (which ran from March 2019 to February 2020). Data on screen time (television, computer, video games, and mobile phone) per day, Mediterranean diet adherence, daily moderate or vigorous physical activity, and parents’ education levels were gathered using questionnaires. A descriptive study of the variables according to sex and parents’ education level was performed. Logistic regression models (adjusted by sex and weight status) were fitted to evaluate the independent association between screen time and Kids’ level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (KIDMED) index, as well as some of its items. A greater amount of screen time was associated with worse adherence to the Mediterranean diet; a lower consumption of fruit, vegetables, fish, legumes, and nuts; and a greater consumption of fast food, sweets, and candies. A lower parents’ education level was associated with worse adherence to the Mediterranean diet. It is necessary to promote the responsible, limited use of screen time, especially in children with parents with a lower education level.

scholarly journals Level of Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Weight Status among Adolescent Female Gymnasts: A Cross-Sectional Study

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 1135
Author(s):  
Ioanna Kontele ◽  
Maria G. Grammatikopoulou ◽  
Tonia Vassilakou
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Adolescent Female ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Female Gymnasts

Adolescent female gymnasts are a vulnerable population in terms of their diet, as their nutritional needs are higher due to their growth and high daily training demands. The Mediterranean diet (MD) is a well-known dietary pattern that is associated with a greater nutritional adequacy and a lower prevalence of overweight. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the degree of adherence to the MD among adolescent female athletes who participated in all disciplines of gymnastics in Greece, as well as to explore the potential correlations between MD adherence, body weight, and body mass index (BMI). A total of 269 female gymnasts (between 11–18 years old) completed the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) and reported their weight and height. Approximately 10% of the participants were underweight and a mere 5.6% were classified as overweight. A high adherence to the MD was reported by 34.9% of the sample and this was correlated with a healthier BMI. Moreover, specific eating habits, such as eating nuts 2–3 times per week and eating fast-food less than once-weekly, were also associated with BMI. Athletes, parents, and coaches of gymnastics should be informed and educated regarding balanced nutrition habits. Future studies could evaluate adherence to MD, as well as the factors that influence the eating behaviors of adolescent female and male athletes in various sports.

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.

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