Adherence to Mediterranean Diet among Students from Primary and Middle School in the Province of Taranto, 2016–2018

Guglielmo Bonaccorsi, Federica Furlan, Marisa Scocuzza and Chiara Lorini
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Guglielmo Bonaccorsi: Department of Health Science, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Federica Furlan: School of Specialization in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Marisa Scocuzza: Department of Health Science, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Chiara Lorini: Department of Health Science, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-10

Abstract: The Mediterranean diet represents one of the healthiest dietary patterns, but nowadays it is increasingly being ignored in schools and by families. The aim of this study is to assess the adherence to the Mediterranean diet by pupils living in a small Southern Italian municipality, and whether it is a predictor of nutritional status.The degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet, the socio-economic status and the nutritional status of 314 students (6–14 years) were tested during the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 school years with the help of a questionnaire comprising the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for Children and Adolescents (KIDMED) test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the predictive role of the KIDMED score and the other variables with respect to nutritional status. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is high, medium and poor in, respectively, 24.8, 56.4 and 18.8% of students; it varies depending on gender and age, with females and older students showing higher values. In the multivariate logistic regression model, sex and KIDMED level are become significant predictors of nutritional status. This study highlights the need for intervention in the form of school projects—also involving families—to promote healthier eating habits in younger generations.

Keywords: KIDMED test; Mediterranean diet; adherence; nutritional status; school projects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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