scholarly journals Feasibility of the AusMed Diet Program: Translating the Mediterranean Diet for Older Australians

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karly Zacharia ◽  
Amanda J. Patterson ◽  
Coralie English ◽  
Lesley MacDonald-Wicks

The Mediterranean diet pattern (MEDI) is associated with a lower risk of chronic conditions related to ageing. Adherence research mostly comes from Mediterranean countries with high cultural acceptability. This study examines the feasibility of a MEDI intervention designed specifically for older Australians (AusMed). Phase 1 involved a consumer research group (n = 17) presentation of program materials with surveys after each section. In-depth individual semi-structured interviews (n = 6) were then conducted. All participants reported increased knowledge and confidence in adherence to the MEDI, with the majority preferring a booklet format (70%) and group delivery (58%). Three themes emerged from interviews—1. barriers (complexity, perceived cost and food preferences), 2. additional support and 3. individualisation of materials. Program materials were modified accordingly. Phase 2 was a 2-week trial of the modified program (n = 15). Participants received a group counselling session, program manual and food hamper. Adherence to the MEDI was measured by the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS). All participants increased their adherence after the 2-week trial, from a mean score of 5.4 ± 2.4 (low adherence) to a mean score of 9.6 ± 2.0 (moderate to high adherence). All found that text message support helped achieve their goals and were confident to continue the dietary change.

Author(s):  
Andrea de la Torre-Moral ◽  
Sergi Fàbregues ◽  
Anna Bach-Faig ◽  
Albert Fornieles-Deu ◽  
F. Xavier Medina ◽  
...  

Two aspects that characterize the Mediterranean diet (MD) are “what” and “how” we eat. Conviviality relates to “how” we eat and to the pleasure of sharing meals with significant people. The most studied concept is “family meals”, which includes conviviality, which involves “enjoying” family meals. Given the lack of research on convivial family meals in Mediterranean countries, the purpose of this qualitative study was to analyze the family meal representations and practices of families with 12- to 16-year-old adolescents to assess whether they responded to a pattern of conviviality, and to examine their association with MD adherence. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted and food frequency and family meal questionnaires were administered. A food pattern analysis was carried out and digital photos of meals were analyzed to examine eating habits and meal composition, respectively. The findings showed that parents believed family meals are a space for socialization and communication. Items relating to the conviviality of family meals identified in the study were meal frequency, meals at the table, lack of digital distractions, pleasant conversations, and time spent on family meals. Attention should be paid to conviviality in Mediterranean families when designing multi-approach strategies to promote healthy eating among adolescents.


1999 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antigone Kouris-Blazos ◽  
Charalambos Gnardellis ◽  
Mark L. Wahlqvist ◽  
Dimitrios Trichopoulos ◽  
Widjaja Lukito ◽  
...  

A prospective cohort study, involving 141 Anglo-Celts and 189 Greek-Australians of both sexes aged 70 years or more, was undertaken in Melbourne, Australia. The objective was to evaluate whether adherence to the principles of the Mediterranean diet affects survival of elderly people in developed non-Mediterranean countries. Diet was assessed using an extensive validated questionnaire on food intake. A one unit increase in a diet score, devised a priori on the basis of eight key features of the traditional common diet in the Mediterranean region, was associated with a 17 % reduction in overall mortality (two-tailed P value 0·07). Mortality reduction with increasing diet score was at least as evident among Anglo-Celts as among Greek-Australians. We conclude that a diet that adheres to the principles of the traditional Mediterranean diet is associated with longer survival among Australians of either Greek or Anglo-Celtic origin.


Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Rodríguez-Mireles ◽  
Beatriz López-Valcárcel ◽  
Lluís Serra-Majem ◽  
Aránzazu Hernández-Yumar ◽  
Patricia Barber-Pérez ◽  
...  

Despite proposed conceptual frameworks of eating behaviors, little is known about environmental factors contributing to changes in food habits. Few studies have reported the external influence of tourism on the inhabitants’ eating patterns. The present study aimed to investigate whether tourism pressure affects Canary Islands inhabitants’ adherence to the Mediterranean diet pattern. Data were obtained from a health and lifestyle population-based survey conducted in 2009 and 2015. From the reported intake frequency, a Mediterranean diet score was defined (0 to 11 points). Tourist overnight stays, which were stratified by nationality and area of destination, were used as a proxy variable to measure tourism pressure. A multilevel linear regression analysis by restricted maximum likelihood estimation was performed to examine the relationship between tourism pressure and the Mediterranean diet score. A significant negative association between the Mediterranean diet score and British tourism pressure was observed (β = −0.0064, p = 0.010), whereas German tourism pressure increased inhabitants’ adherence (β = 0.0092, p = 0.042). The socioeconomic level of tourists seems to play a role in differences in the tourism pressure effect by nationality. Further investigation of other highly touristic destinations is needed to confirm these findings that could contribute to a shift in tourism and public health nutrition policies.


2012 ◽  
Vol 142 (8) ◽  
pp. 1547-1553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluca Tognon ◽  
Lena Maria Nilsson ◽  
Lauren Lissner ◽  
Ingegerd Johansson ◽  
Göran Hallmans ◽  
...  

Circulation ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 135 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
James M Shikany ◽  
Monika M Safford ◽  
Joanna Bryan ◽  
PK Newby ◽  
Joshua S Richman ◽  
...  

Background: We have shown that the Southern dietary pattern, characterized by added fats, fried foods, organ and processed meats, and sugar-sweetened beverages, is associated with a greater risk of incident CHD in REGARDS, a national, population-based, longitudinal cohort. We sought to determine if the Southern pattern, other dietary patterns, and the Mediterranean diet score were associated with CHD events and mortality in REGARDS participants who previously reported CHD. Methods: REGARDS enrolled white and black adults aged ≥45 years between 2003-2007. Data were analyzed from 3,562 participants with CHD at baseline. Participants completed an FFQ at baseline, from which 5 dietary patterns were derived through factor analysis (Table). The Mediterranean diet score was calculated for each participant. Expert-adjudicated CHD events included myocardial infarction and CHD death. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to model the association of the dietary patterns and score with CHD events and death, adjusting for sociodemographics, lifestyle factors, energy intake, anthropometrics, and medical conditions. Results: Over 7 years of follow-up, there were 581 recurrent CHD events and 1,098 deaths. In fully-adjusted analyses, the highest quartile of adherence to the alcohol/salads pattern and highest group of the Mediterranean diet score were associated with lower risk of recurrent CHD compared to the lowest quartile/group (HR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.59 – 0.98, HR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.62 – 0.98, respectively). The highest quartile of adherence to the Southern pattern was associated with higher mortality (HR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.28 – 1.91), while the highest group of the Mediterranean diet score was associated with lower mortality (HR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.68 – 0.95). Conclusions: While the Southern dietary pattern was not related to risk of recurrent CHD, it was associated with higher mortality in REGARDS participants with existing CHD. Greater adherence to a Mediterranean diet was associated with lower risk of recurrent CHD and mortality.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany M. Newman ◽  
Mara Z. Vitolins ◽  
Katherine L. Cook

Diet is a modifiable component of lifestyle that could influence breast cancer development. The Mediterranean dietary pattern is considered one of the healthiest of all dietary patterns. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet protects against diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Reported consumption of a Mediterranean diet pattern was associated with lower breast cancer risk for women with all subtypes of breast cancer, and a Western diet pattern was associated with greater risk. In this review, we contrast the available epidemiological breast cancer data, comparing the impact of consuming a Mediterranean diet to the Western diet. Furthermore, we will review the preclinical data highlighting the anticancer molecular mechanism of Mediterranean diet consumption in both cancer prevention and therapeutic outcomes. Diet composition is a major constituent shaping the gut microbiome. Distinct patterns of gut microbiota composition are associated with the habitual consumption of animal fats, high-fiber diets, and vegetable-based diets. We will review the impact of Mediterranean diet on the gut microbiome and inflammation. Outside of the gut, we recently demonstrated that Mediterranean diet consumption led to distinct microbiota shifts in the mammary gland tissue, suggesting possible anticancer effects by diet on breast-specific microbiome. Taken together, these data support the anti-breast-cancer impact of Mediterranean diet consumption.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Jones ◽  
Janet Cade ◽  
Charlotte Evans ◽  
Neil Hancock ◽  
Darren Greenwood

AbstractDietary pattern analyses have most commonly used food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) data for large population studies, whilst food diaries (FD) tend to be used with smaller datasets and followed up for shorter terms, restricting the possibility of a direct comparison. Studies comparing dietary patterns derived from two different assessment methods, in relation to diet and disease are limited. The aims of this study are to assess the agreement between dietary patterns derived from FFQ and FDs and to compare the associations between the Mediterranean dietary pattern and the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute of Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) dietary pattern in relation to colorectal cancer incidence.The study population included 2276 healthy middle-aged women – participants of the UK Women's Cohort Study. Energy and nutrient intakes, derived from 4-day FDs and from a 217-item FFQ were compared. A 10 and an 8-component score indicating adherence to the Mediterranean diet and to the 2007 WCRF/AICR cancer prevention recommendations respectively were generated. Agreement was assessed by weighted Kappa statistics and the Bland-Altman method. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for colorectal cancer risk for both the FD and the FFQ patterns, for each score separately.The Bland-Altman method showed that the FFQ gave a higher energy intake compared to the FD with a bias of -525 kcal (95% CI -556, -493) between the two methods. Agreement was slight for the Mediterranean diet score (Κ = 0.15; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.16) and fair for the WCRF/AICR score (Κ = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.37, 0.39). A total of 173 incident cases of colorectal cancer were documented. In the multi-variable adjusted models, the estimates for an association with colorectal cancer were weak: HR = 0.94 (95% CI: 0.83 to 1.06) for a 1-unit increment in the Mediterranean diet score using FD and HR = 1.01 (95% CI: 0.83 to 1.24) for a 1-unit increment in the WCRF/AICR score using FD. For scores derived from the FFQ, estimates were inverse, but weak (HR = 0.80 (95% CI: 0.90 to 1.00) for a 1-unit increment in the Mediterranean diet score using FFQ and HR = 0.84 (95% CI: 0.67 to 1.05) for a 1-unit increment in the WCRF/AICR score using FFQ.There is insufficient evidence of an association of colorectal cancer risk with the Mediterranean dietary pattern or with the WCRF/AICR cancer prevention recommendations, irrespective of the dietary assessment method in this sample. Further studies with larger sample sizes, using FD for diet assessment are warranted.


2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 1444-1450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayako Sezaki ◽  
Tomoko Imai ◽  
Keiko Miyamoto ◽  
Fumiya Kawase ◽  
Hiroshi Shimokata

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to clarify the global relationship between Mediterranean diet score (MDS) and the incidence of IHD by country using international statistics.DesignThe incidence of IHD by country was derived from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database. Average supplies of food (g/d per capita) and energy (kcal/d per capita) by country, excluding loss between production and household, were obtained from the FAOSTAT database. MDS was evaluated based on the total score of nine food items that characterize the Mediterranean diet. The association between MDS and the incidence of IHD was examined in countries with a population of 1 million or greater using a general linear model controlled for socio-economic and lifestyle variables.SettingPopulation data from global international databases.ParticipantsOne hundred and thirty-two countries with a population of over 1 million.ResultsMDS was inversely correlated with obesity rate, ageing rate, years of education and IHD incidence; however, no associations were found with gross domestic product, life expectancy, smoking rate, energy supply or health expenditure. In the general linear model of IHD incidence by MDS controlled for socio-economic and lifestyle variables, the β of the MDS was –26·4 (se 8·6; P<0·01).ConclusionsThe results of this global international comparative study confirmed that the Mediterranean diet is inversely associated with the incidence of IHD.


2006 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reina Garcia-Closas ◽  
Antoni Berenguer ◽  
Carlos A González

AbstractObjectiveTo describe geographical differences and time trends in the supply of the most important food components of the traditional Mediterranean diet.DesignFood supply data collected from national food balance sheets for the period 1961–2001.SettingSelected Mediterranean countries: Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey.ResultsDifferences of almost 30-fold and five-fold were found in the supply of olive oil and fruits and vegetables, respectively, among the Mediterranean countries studied during the 1960s. A favourable increasing trend for the supply of fruit and vegetables was observed in most Mediterranean countries. However, an increase in the supply of meats and dairy products and a decrease in the supply of cereals and wine were observed in European Mediterranean countries from 1961 until 2001. Only in African and Asiatic Mediterranean countries were cereals the base of food supply. During the 1990s, Greece's food supply pattern was closest to the traditional Mediterranean diet, while Italy and Spain maintained a high availability of fruits, vegetables and olive oil, but were losing the other typical components. Among African and Asiatic Mediterranean countries, only Turkey presented a traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern except with respect to olive oil, the supply of which was very low. France showed a Western dietary pattern, with a high supply of animal products and a low supply of olive oil.ConclusionsDietary supplies in the Mediterranean area were quite heterogeneous in the 1960s and have experienced a process of Westernization, especially in European Mediterranean countries.


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