Adherence to the Mediterranean diet in Italian school children (The ZOOM8 Study)

Abstract

The adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) of 1740 Italian 8–9-year-olds was evaluated using the KIDMED index and a descriptive analysis of it by socio-demographic and lifestyle factors was performed. Only 5.0% of the children resulted “high” adherers of MD (62.2% “average” and 32.8% “poor”). This scarce adherence was due to a low consumption of fruit, vegetables, legumes, dairy products and a high intake of commercially baked goods for breakfast and sweets. Hindrances to fruit, vegetables and pulses consumption were reported for one-third of the sample. The adherence rates did not differ significantly with BMI and gender. Adherence improved with: having lunch at school; liking lunch at school; breakfast with family; no free access to food; availability of fruit and pulses; liking vegetables; higher maternal education; lower child screen time; population size of place of residence. The results show it is important to improve family food habits and dietary knowledge.

• Adherence
• children
• Italy
• KIDMED
• Mediterranean diet

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge Paolo D’Argenio, Alberto Perra, Nancy Binkin and the ZOOM8 Study Group, including Laura Censi, Dina D’Addesa, Amleto D’Amicis, Veronica Angelini, Noemi Bevilacqua, Giovina Catasta, Irene Fabbri, Myriam Galfo, Deborah Martone, Romana Roccaldo, Elisabetta Toti, (INRAN) (now CRA-NUT); Angela Spinelli, Giovanni Baglio, Anna Lamberti, Paola Nardone (CNESPS, National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion of the National Institute of Health), Daniela Galeone, Maria Teresa Menzano, Maria Teresa Scotti (Ministry of Health); Maria Teresa Silani, Silvana Teti (Regional Health Authority of Lazio); Adriano Cattaneo, Paola D'Acapito, Claudia Carletti (Friuli Venezia Giulia), Federica Pascali (Liguria), Giordano Giostra (Marche), Giulia Cairella, Esmeralda Castronuovo (Lazio), Giuseppina Fersini, Marina La Rocca (Calabria), Simonetta Rizzo, Achille Cernigliaro (Sicilia); the Technical Committee of OKkio alla SALUTE – Giovanni Baglio, Giulia Cairella, Marcello Caputo, Margherita Caroli, Chiara Cattaneo, Franco Cavallo, Laura Censi, Amalia De Luca, Barbara De Mei, Daniela Galeone, Giordano Giostra, Anna Lamberti, Gianfranco Mazzarella, Paola Nardone, Giuseppe Perri, Maria Teresa Silani, Anna Rita Silvestri, Angela Spinelli, Lorenzo Spizzichino for their contribution.

We thank the many healthcare workers, teachers and families throughout the country who participated in this study.