Determinants for adherence to the Mediterranean diet beyond the boundaries: A cross-sectional study from Sharjah the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Background Substantial evidence embraced the nutrition competence of the Mediterranean diet (MD) as a healthy model for decreasing risk of many chronic diseases and increasing longevity, with the bonus of ensuring environmental sustainability. Measuring adherence to this diet is marginally investigated in the Gulf region, an away of the Mediterranean region. The objectives of this study aimed to assess adherence to MD among adults in the Sharjah Emirate of the United Arab Emirates and to identify the relationship between adherence level with the sociodemographic, health status, and lifestyle parameters of the participants. Methods This was a cross-sectional study that included 1340 male and female subjects. Data collection was performed using a self-reported web-based electronic questionnaire that included sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, while adherence to the MD was assessed by the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener validated questionnaire. Results There was a moderate adherence score (5.9 ± 1.9) among the study participants. The lowest contribution to the MD food components was from fish (9.3%), followed by fruits (12.3%), and legumes (18.3%). The adjusted model of the multivariable linear regression analysis showed an overall significant linear trend for the association between the MD adherence score and variables studied outcomes. Physical activity, nutrition information from dietitians, and social media were the most strongly related predictors for higher adherence (β = 0.747; 95% CI 0.51–0.98, and β 0.60; 95% CI 0.269–0.93; p < 0.001, respectively. While smokers and non-Mediterranean participants were associated with lower adherence scores (β = 0.538; 95% CI 0.252–0.82, p < 0.001. Conclusion The findings of the current study enlighten the public health and nutrition specialists/dietitians to tailor intervention programs and to establish new modern approaches for promoting healthy dietary behaviours consistent with the MD.