Food Insecurity Is Associated with Low Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Adverse Health Conditions in Portuguese Adults

Gregório, Maria João; Rodrigues, Ana Maria; Graça, Pedro; Sousa, Rute Dinis de; Dias, Sara Simões; Branco, Jaime

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2018.00038

Cited by 75 publications

(93 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…The increasing availability of foods from big retail is a revolutionary event that has impacted health on a population-size level. In particular, the adherence to the Mediterranean diet is decreasing even within those regions where it was first discovered [11,12], and such a change in the alimentary habit is generally seen as one of the potential causes of the obesity epidemic [13], especially among adolescents [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

We are What We Eat: Impact of Food from Short Supply Chain on Metabolic Syndrome

Santulli

Pascale

Finelli

et al. 2019

JCM

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Food supply in the Mediterranean area has been recently modified by big retail distribution; for instance, industrial retail has favored shipments of groceries from regions that are intensive producers of mass food, generating a long supply chain (LSC) of food that opposes short supply chains (SSCs) that promote local food markets. However, the actual functional role of food retail and distribution in the determination of the risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS) has not been studied hitherto. The main aim of this study was to test the effects of food chain length on the prevalence of MetS in a population accustomed to the Mediterranean diet. We conducted an observational study in Southern Italy on individuals adhering to the Mediterranean diet. We examined a total of 407 subjects (41% females) with an average age of 56 ± 14.5 years (as standard deviation) and found that being on the Mediterranean diet with a SSC significantly reduces the prevalence of MetS compared with the LSC (SSC: 19.65%, LSC: 31.46%; p: 0.007). Our data indicate for the first time that the length of food supply chain plays a key role in determining the risk of MetS in a population adhering to the Mediterranean diet.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

We are What We Eat: Impact of Food from Short Supply Chain on Metabolic Syndrome

Santulli

Pascale

Finelli

et al. 2019

JCM

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“…In Portugal, data obtained through the EpiDoc cohort (2015–2016) in a representative sample of the Portuguese population, showed that 19.3% of the portuguese population had some level of FI, and that 1.8% were classified as having severe FI ( 4 , 5 ). Among older adults, the prevalence of FI seems to be higher.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional Status and Quality of Life Determinants of a Group of Elderly People With Food Insecurity

et al. 2018

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Background: A good functionality is appointed by the elderly as one of the most important factors for a good quality of life, since it is associated with independency and autonomy. Studies show that elderly with food insecurity have greater limitations in daily living activities (DLA) when compared to food security elderly. Moreover, food insecure elderly are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with depression. We aimed to investigate the potential determinants of functional status (HAQ) and quality of life (EQ-5D-3L) in a sample of elderly with food insecurity.Methods: Forty-one participants with food insecurity were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team, in April and May of 2016 (a baseline cross-sectional study prior to the intervention program).Results: This study demonstrates correlations of functional status and quality of life to such aspects of elderly assessment as age, BMI, manual strength, among others. It was found that manual strength, gender, family income, anxiety, and depression were correlated to quality of life; and that mobility, manual strength, anxiety and gender were correlated to the functional status. After multivariable adjustment, only mobility (β = −0.220; p ≤ 0.01) and quality of life (β = −1.457; p ≤ 0.01) remained significantly associated with higher levels of functional disability. With regard to quality of life, only the functional status (β = −0.242; p ≤ 0.01), the presence of depression (β = −0.169; p ≤ 0.05), and family income (β = 0.185; p ≤ 0.05) remained significantly associated with health-related quality of life.Conclusions: The study aims to verify the potential determinants of functional status (HAQ) and quality of life (EQ-5D-3L) in a sample of elderly with food insecurity. Even in a small cohort, the study demonstrated that in an elderly population with food insecurity, functional status is associated with mobility and quality of life, and that health-related quality of life is also associated with symptoms of depression and family income. Larger studies in other populations may be useful to confirm these observations.

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“…According to a study conducted in a cohort of the Portuguese population, food insecurity has a prevalence of 19.3%. Additionally, this study has shown that Portuguese food-insecure individuals have a higher risk of having unhealthy dietary patterns (lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet) and chronic diseases, resulting in higher healthcare resource consumption [ 24 ]. Data from the last National Health Survey showed a social gradient in the prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new interministerial strategy for the promotion of healthy eating in Portugal: implementation and initial results

Graça

Gregório

Sousa³

et al. 2018

Health Res Policy Sys

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ObjectiveTo describe the implementation, main intervention areas and initial results of the Integrated Strategy for the Promotion of Healthy Eating (EIPAS) in Portugal.MethodsEIPAS was published as a Law, in December of 2017, as a result of a collaboration between several ministries, including the Finance, Internal Affairs, Education, Health, Economy, Agriculture, and Sea Ministries, aiming at improving the dietary habits of the Portuguese population. The working group, led by the Ministry of Health, developed this strategy for over a year. The framework produced was based on WHO and European Commission recommendations as well as on relevant data from the last Portuguese dietary intake survey (2015/2016). EIPAS also reflects the results of a public hearing, including the food industry, among others, and the experience gathered, since 2012, through the National Programme for the Promotion of Healthy Eating. It considers the ‘health in all policies’ challenge set by WHO and has four different strategic areas, namely (1) creation of healthier food environments, (2) improvement of the quality and accessibility of healthy food choices for consumers, (3) promotion and development of literacy, in order to encourage healthy food choices, and (4) promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship. In order to achieve these goals, a set of 51 actions was established and assigned to the seven ministries involved.ResultsUnder the scope of this strategy, Portugal has already implemented several actions, including (1) definition of standards for food availability at all public healthcare institutions; (2) implementation of a sugar tax on sweetened beverages; (3) implementation of a voluntary agreement with the food industry sector for food reformulation (work in progress); (4) design of a proposal for an interpretative model of front-of-pack food labelling; (5) improvement of the nutritional quality of food aid programmes for low-income groups; and (6) regulation of marketing of unhealthy foods to children.ConclusionsFor the first time, Portugal has a nutrition policy based on the WHO concept of ‘health in all policies’ and on the national data on food intake. The implementing process of all 51 actions and the inherent complexities and difficulties found so far have made this process be an authentic political and social laboratory that deserves to be followed.

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Food Insecurity Is Associated with Low Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Adverse Health Conditions in Portuguese Adults

Cited by 75 publications

References 31 publications

We are What We Eat: Impact of Food from Short Supply Chain on Metabolic Syndrome

We are What We Eat: Impact of Food from Short Supply Chain on Metabolic Syndrome

Functional Status and Quality of Life Determinants of a Group of Elderly People With Food Insecurity

A new interministerial strategy for the promotion of healthy eating in Portugal: implementation and initial results

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