Mediterranean Diet adherence in emerging adults in Izmir

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the adherence and abandonment of the Turkish emerging adults in an Izmir University located at western Mediterranean coast of Turkey and to assess potential associations with anthropometric characteristics. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey (n=494, 18–27 years) carried out in 2017 among emerging adults in University. KIDMED Index was used to assess the degree of adherence Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet). The associations of KIDMED scores with demographic, residency and anthropometric were separately reported. The data were collected through standardized questionnaires directly from participants. Findings The average KIDMED score was calculated 4.86±2.5. Optimum adherence to the MedDiet was found only in 13.0 percent of participants, whereas 32.6 percent had poor adherence levels. Considering self-reported anthropometric data, the BMI values of the population was calculated as 22.3±3.9 kg/m2. In population, 13.9 percent of the subjects were underweight, while 16.0 percent were overweight and 3.9 percent obese. A significant association was found between BMI and KIDMED scores both in genders and residency. Originality/value This is the first study reporting the level of adherence to the MedDiet among Turkish emerging adults in terms of residency during education and the first KIDMED study conducted in Izmir located at Aegean Sea. The results support previously proposed transition concept by several scholar from different Mediterranean countries: it was found that only 13 percent of young adults having desired dietary habits in an Aegean city with local traditional cuisine highly affected by Cretan cuisine. These results are significant for University managements and health authorities in order to take actions for returning this transition contrariwise beginning with these groups.

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in College Students: Evaluation of Psychometric Properties of the KIDMED Questionnaire

“…The transition from high school to college often implies important changes to environment and resources that might result in negative health lifestyles, including poor-quality diets [ 15 , 24 ]. A cross-sectional study conducted in the Turkish university students showed that residency was directly related to adherence to the MedDiet, supporting the theory that students who were living with family had more positive adherence compared to the students who were living away from their family homes [ 23 ]. In the current study, almost 42% of participants had poor or average adherence to the MedDiet, suggesting a need for nutrition interventions that focus on promoting healthy dietary habits in early adulthood.…”

“…Based on their KIDMED scores, 58.4% of participants had a good adherence to the MedDiet. Worse scores were obtained by Stefan et al in a cohort of 276 college students from Croatia [ 17 ], and by Genc & Genc in emerging adults at a university on the western Mediterranean coast of Turkey [ 23 ]. Discrepancies can be attributed to differences in dietary habits among different countries.…”

Perceptions of university students on nutrition as a useful tool to manage anxiety and depression levels

“…According to El Ansari et al (2012), the student's transition from school to university coincides with changing living arrangements, which might also result in a reorientation of eating behaviours and in an appropriate time for education on Nutrition with lasting healthier choices. Similarly, Genc and Genc (2019) found very low adherence to Mediterranean Diet, especially among the students who don't live together with their family during the education period.…”