scholarly journals Health benefits and social determinants of the Mediterranean diet at a time of economic crisis : results from the moli-sani study

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bonaccio
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
The Mediterranean

scholarly journals Food insecurity and social determinants of students’ low adherence to the Mediterranean diet

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Tsiampalis ◽  
A Petralias ◽  
A Linos
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
School Grade ◽  
Nursery Schools ◽  
The Mediterranean

Abstract Background Despite the fact that the Meditteranean diet is highly beneficiary for people’s health, there are many factors which cause disparities in the level of adherence. The aim of the present work was to investigate the effect of household food insecurity (FI) on adherence to the Mediterranean diet (AMD), to explore the participants’ characteristics modifying the studied relationship and find the social determinants of students’ low adherence to the specific dietary pattern. Methods A cross-sectional study with 140 schools and 4,242 students was conducted in Greece (2017-2018). Especially designed and validated instruments were used to record students’ sociodemographic characteristics, household’s FI status and students’ AMD. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to investigate the effect of FI and to identify the significant social determinants of students’ AMD, according to students’ school grade. Results After adjusting for other characteristics, students whose both parents are born in other countries, spend at most 4 hours/week on TV/electronic games, live in the regions of Peloponnese, Central Macedonia or Attica and attend primary schools adhere more to the Mediterranean diet, while higher level of physical activity and lower FI are significantly associated with better AMD. Parents’ educational level in nursery schools (p = 0.002) and employment status in nursery schools (p = 0.012) and in high schools/ lyceums (p = 0.008) were found to modify significantly the studied relationship in the univariate analysis, while school grade (p = 0.013) and physical activity (p = 0.088) were found to modify the studied relationship in the multivariable analysis. Conclusions Several demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle characteristics were significantly associated with students’ AMD. Thus, emphasis should be given on the design of special programs to reduce household FI and intervene in the rest characteristics. Key messages Researchers and policymakers should consider food insecurity as important risk factor for school-aged children, particularly for those who live in poverty. Emphasis should be given on the design of special low-cost programs aiming to reduce food insecurity.

Challenges to the Mediterranean diet at a time of economic crisis

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 1057-1063 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bonaccio ◽  
M. Bes-Rastrollo ◽  
G. de Gaetano ◽  
L. Iacoviello
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
The Mediterranean

scholarly journals Gender, Age, Geographical Area, Food Neophobia and Their Relationships with the Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet: New Insights from a Large Population Cross-Sectional Study

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Predieri ◽  
Fiorella Sinesio ◽  
Erminio Monteleone ◽  
Sara Spinelli ◽  
Marta Cianciabella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Soft Drinks ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Food Neophobia ◽  
The Mediterranean

The Mediterranean diet (MD) is associated with many health benefits. The association between the MD and food neophobia (FN) is still unexplored in adults. The present cross-sectional study was aimed to explore the relationships between adherence to the MD, FN, and sociodemographic variables in a large Italian cohort. Familiarity and frequency use (FFI) of prototypical and non-prototypical Mediterranean foods were used to calculate a new adherence index: the Italian Taste Mediterranean Index (ITMI). The FFI of all Mediterranean foods increased with age, while butter, soft drinks, red/cured meat, and sweets were more common in younger people. Accordingly, ITMI increased with age (F2,2384 = 54.11; p < 0.0001). Women recorded a higher ITMI (6.70) than men (6.10). Individuals with high FN showed higher FFI for soft drinks and sweets and lower ones for most typical MD foods, than individuals with low FNs. A decrease of ITMI was recorded with the increase of the FN(F2,2384 = 22.84; p < 0.0001). With ageing, ITMI increased even in individuals with a high FN. The results suggest that FN may negatively affect adherence to the MD, lowering its potential health benefits, in the adult population. Monitoring of food habits, dietary education, and anxiety management, may be valuable tools to control FN and support the adherence to the MD.

scholarly journals The Mediterranean Diet: From an Environment-Driven Food Culture to an Emerging Medical Prescription

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina-Mihaela Lăcătușu ◽  
Elena-Daniela Grigorescu ◽  
Mariana Floria ◽  
Alina Onofriescu ◽  
Bogdan-Mircea Mihai
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Pattern ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Meat Products ◽  
Food Culture ◽  
Medical Professionals ◽  
Unhealthy Eating ◽  
The Mediterranean

The Mediterranean diet originates in the food cultures of ancient civilizations which developed around the Mediterranean Basin and is based on the regular consumption of olive oil (as the main source of added fat), plant foods (cereals, fruits, vegetables, legumes, tree nuts, and seeds), the moderate consumption of fish, seafood, and dairy, and low-to-moderate alcohol (mostly red wine) intake, balanced by a comparatively limited use of red meat and other meat products. A few decades ago, the Mediterranean diet drew the attention of medical professionals by proving extended health benefits. The first reports ascertained cardiovascular protection, as multiple large-scale clinical studies, starting with Ancel Keys’ Seven Countries Study, showed a marked reduction of atherosclerotic clinical events in populations with a Mediterranean dietary pattern. Ensuing trials confirmed favorable influences on the risk for metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. While its health benefits are universally recognized today by medical professionals, the present state of the Mediterranean diet is challenged by major difficulties in implementing this protective dietary pattern in other geographical and cultural areas and keeping it alive in traditional Mediterranean territories, also tainted by the unhealthy eating habits brought by worldwide acculturation.

scholarly journals Infrequently asked questions about the Mediterranean diet

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (9A) ◽  
pp. 1644-1647 ◽  
Author(s):  
France Bellisle
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Fixed Number ◽  
Mediterranean Populations ◽  
Mediterranean Regions ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Diet And Lifestyle ◽  
Specific Food

AbstractNumerous health benefits have been attributed to the ‘Mediterranean diet’ over the last decades. Selecting foods that were common in the Mediterranean regions (especially Crete) in the 1970s, with a frequent and abundant intake of fruit, vegetables, fish, olive oil and perhaps wine, has been reported to be associated with wide-ranging benefits including improved glucose metabolism and decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity and CVD. While the respective contributions of various types of food have been widely investigated, less attention has been paid to other factors, also characteristic of the Mediterranean lifestyle, which may contribute to the health benefits perhaps as much as specific food choices. Traditionally, the Mediterranean diet was consumed in the context of a particular lifestyle, with a fixed number of daily meals, generally consumed at later hours (compared to North of Europe), and some specific meal-related behaviours such as the post-lunch siesta. In addition, the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle that were so beneficial to health, 40 years ago, were considerably different from present-day practices. The changes are particularly clear in younger individuals and countries of the Mediterranean region presently have the highest child overweight rates in Europe. The present paper will address research about meal and satiety patterns and examine how the recent changes from traditional practices are likely to have an impact on health risks and benefits in Mediterranean populations.

scholarly journals Socio-economic determinants of nutrition transition in Southern European countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Iacoviello
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Dietary Patterns ◽  
Dietary Pattern ◽  
Nutrition Transition ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Socioeconomic Groups ◽  
Current Economic Crisis ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Southern European Countries

Abstract Issue/problem Traditional dietary patterns in southern European countries are changing into less healthy choices, especially among the younger generations. Description of the problem There is consistent evidence of a transition from Mediterranean foods preference toward a higher consumption of high-caloric and hyper-processed foods. Potential reasons for the observed nutrition transition or barriers for adopting healthy dietary pattern across the borders of the Mediterranean basin are represented by lifestyle changes, food globalization, economic, and socio-cultural factors. Results Emerging socioeconomic inequalities in other domains of healthy dietary behaviors such as dietary variety, access to organic foods and food purchasing behavior seems to affect Southern Mediterranean countries while countries in Northern Europe and some other Countries around the world are currently embracing a Mediterranean-like dietary pattern. A potential cause of this downward trend could be the increasing prices of some food items of the Mediterranean diet pyramid. Recent evidence has shown a possible involvement of the economic crisis, as material resources becoming strong determinants of the adherence to the Mediterranean diet just after the recession started in 2007-2008 in part of Europe. Undesirable dietary modifications possibly linked to the current economic crisis were mainly reported by lower socioeconomic groups. Interpretation Traditional healthy dietary patterns have become socioeconomically patterned, and the prominent role of financial over cultural resources in determining the adherence to this pattern should be taken into account. The current economic crisis represents a major health threat for the general population but in particular for the most vulnerable socioeconomic groups, possibly leading to wider gaps in terms of risk/protective factors across socioeconomic categories.

scholarly journals Definitions and potential health benefits of the Mediterranean diet: views from experts around the world

BMC Medicine ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonia Trichopoulou ◽  
Miguel A Martínez-González ◽  
Tammy YN Tong ◽  
Nita G Forouhi ◽  
Shweta Khandelwal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
The World ◽  
The Mediterranean
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