Increased knowledge predicts greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet in Greek adolescents

Abstract

Objectives: To examine knowledge of and adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern (MDP) among Greek adolescents, assess associations between MDP knowledge and adherence with BMI, and determine socio-cultural factors predicting MDP compliance. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Greek adolescents aged 15-17 years. Subjects: Two hundred adolescents (103 females, ninety-seven males) from six schools on the Greek island of Chios. The sampling procedure was similar for all schools; schools were randomly selected from different geographic areas and all municipalities. BMI was calculated from measured height and weight; participants completed four questionnaires assessing parents' socio-economic status and education, adolescents' perceived and actual MDP knowledge, past-week dietary habits, and MDP adherence.

The relationship between food literacy and dietary intake in adolescents: a systematic review

“…Table 1 provides a summary of each study included for the review. The studies were published between 1993 and 2013 and included ten cross-sectional studies (5,(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43) , two intervention studies (44,45) and one longitudinal cohort study (9) . One of the cross-sectional studies (38) was a part of the longitudinal cohort study (9) .…”

Mediterranean Diet Index (KIDMED) Adherence, Socioeconomic Determinants, and Nutritional Status of Portuguese Children: The Eat Mediterranean Program

“…While some studies observed an inverse association between the Mediterranean dietary pattern and BMI [33, 37, 38], others found no relationship between BMI and the KIDMED index [8]. …”

Dietary Patterns of Female University Students: With Nutrition Education

“…Studies from the United States (11)(12)(13) and Europe (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) indicate that the diets of many university students (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21) and adolescents (22)(23)(24) do not conform to dietary recommendations, which may place these groups at increased risk of obesity and chronic disease (25). Knowledge of a healthy diet is one of the most important determinants of food choice (26) and predicts adherence to a healthy diet in adolescents (23,26). If knowledge does indeed predict intake, then university students enrolled in nutrition courses-who presumably have increased knowledge of dietary choices and their implications-would be anticipated to have diets healthier than those of the general Canadian population.…”