Mediterranean Diet, Psychological Adjustment and Health Perception in University Students: The Mediating Effect of Healthy and Unhealthy Food Groups

This study aims to identify the relationships between eating habits and psychological adjustment and health perception, and to analyze potential mediating role of healthy and unhealthy foods in the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and the psychological constructs and health perception. The sample was selected through stratified random cluster sampling and was composed of 788 university students. The participants responded to a MedDiet adherence screener and food consumption inventory to assess the eating habits, instruments measuring self-esteem, life satisfaction, curiosity and sense of coherence to assess the psychological adjustment, and single item measuring perceived health. The results revealed 41.9% of the participants had a high consumption of vegetables and 85.1% a low consumption of energy drinks, while 29.9% showed a high adherence to the MedDiet which was positively associated to each psychological variable and healthy foods and negatively with unhealthy foods. In conclusion, a higher adherence to the MedDiet, and the consumption of fruits and vegetables is related to higher psychological adjustment and health perception. However, the relationships between MedDiet and the psychological variables and health perception were fully or partially explained because of the consumption of healthy and unhealthy foods.

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Adherence to Mediterranean Diet among Lebanese University Students

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13041264 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 1264

Author(s):

Joanne Karam ◽

Maria del Mar Bibiloni ◽

Mireille Serhan ◽

Josep A. Tur

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Meat Products ◽

Older Students ◽

Adequate Intake ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Adherence Score ◽

The Mean ◽

The University

Scarce studies described eating habits and diet quality among university students in Lebanon. The aim of this study is to assess the rate of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) among Lebanese university students. A cross-sectional nutritional survey was carried out on 525 students (53% men, 18–25 years old) from the University of Balamand, Lebanon. Adherence to the MedDiet was assessed using a validated 14-item MedDiet adherence score. Mean adherence to the MedDiet was 7.96 (standard deviation 2.2), and it was adequate in 59% of participants. Adherence to the MedDiet was higher in older students and nonsmokers. Legumes, vegetables, fruits, and nuts were consumed according to the MedDiet standards among a minimum of 48.4% and a maximum of 69.5% of participants. Chicken, turkey, or rabbit was preferred by 66.9% of participants instead of beef, pork, hamburgers, or sausages; however, just 56.2% of participants showed adequate intake of red meat, hamburger, or meat products. Only 28.8% of them referred to an adequate intake of fish or shellfish. Most of the participants (86.3%) used olive oil as the main added fat, and 67.2% reported a low intake of butter and derivatives. Sofrito was also very usual among participants (79.6%). Only half of the studied sample reported an adequate intake of sweet or carbonated beverages and commercial sweets or pastries. Among the assessed sample, half the participants showed adequate adherence to the MedDiet; however, the mean of adherence among the sample is low.

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The Influence of Emotional Intelligence on Resilience, Test Anxiety, Academic Stress and the Mediterranean Diet. A Study with University Students

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17062071 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 2071 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Rubén Trigueros ◽

Ana M. Padilla ◽

José M. Aguilar-Parra ◽

Patricia Rocamora ◽

María J. Morales-Gázquez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emotional Intelligence ◽

University Students ◽

Test Anxiety ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Academic Stress ◽

Equation Model ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

The University

The academic transition to university is a turning point in young people’s lifestyles. However, studies to date have focused on student behaviour within the classroom context, rather than on the consequences it may have on their lifestyle. This study aims to analyze the influence of emotional intelligence of university students on their resilience, academic stress, exam anxiety, and eating habits related to the Mediterranean diet at the university stage. This study was carried out with the participation of 733 male and 614 female students from the University of Almeria, aged between 19 and 27. A structural equation model was made to explain the causal relationships between the variables. The results showed emotional intelligence positively predicted resilience. In turn, test anxiety and academic stress were negatively predicted by resilience. Finally, test anxiety and academic stress were negatively predicted by the Mediterranean diet. In short, the results of the present study have shown that academic transfer to university and grading pressure can generate maladaptive consequences for food consumption.

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Changes in Eating Habits among Displaced and Non-Displaced University Students

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17155369 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (15) ◽

pp. 5369

Author(s):

Rita Bárbara ◽

Cíntia Ferreira-Pêgo

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Fast Food ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Coffee Consumption ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Sugary Drinks ◽

Unhealthy Eating ◽

Fish Ingestion ◽

Displaced Students

Nowadays the younger generations are moving their food habits from the traditional diet to a Western diet, which is low in fruits and vegetables and high in fat and sugary drinks. University students are a particularly vulnerable population once, with the entrance to university, they are subjected to new influences and responsibilities; in particular, those who live far from their parents’ houses are more predisposed to unhealthy eating habits. To assess the influence that admission to university has had on the frequency of intake of certain foods and meals as well as their adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), self-administered questionnaires were applied. The sample included 97 Portuguese students, with an average age of 21 years, a normal weight, according to body mass index, and an average MedDiet adherence. Most of the individuals did not smoke and the majority did not drink coffee. It was also observed that displaced students consume fast food more frequently compared to the period before they start university. Fish ingestion decreased and coffee consumption increased, in the same group, after starting their university studies.

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Mediterranean Diet Pyramid: A Proposal for Italian People. A Systematic Review of Prospective Studies to Derive Serving Sizes

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11061296 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1296 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Annunziata D’Alessandro ◽

Luisa Lampignano ◽

Giovanni De Pergola

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Prospective Studies ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Saturated Fatty Acids ◽

Nutritional Composition ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Food Groups ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

Serving Sizes

In the last decade, a number of meta-analyses of mostly observational studies evaluated the relation between the intake of food groups and the risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). In this study, we systematically reviewed dose-response meta-analyses of prospective studies with the aim to derive the quantities of food to consume to attain a protective (Mediterranean food) or a non-adverse (non-Mediterranean food) effect toward selected NCDs such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) including coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), colorectal (CRC) and breast cancer. These derived quantities, wherever possible, were suggested for a quantification of food servings of the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid proposed for Italian People (MDPPI). This pyramid came from the Modern Mediterranean Diet Pyramid developed in 2009 for Italian people. A weekly menu plan was built on the advice about frequency of intakes and serving sizes of such pyramid and the nutritional composition of this diet was compared with the Reference Italian Mediterranean Diet followed in 1960 in Nicotera. The diet built according the advice of MDPPI was very similar to that of Nicotera in the late 1950s that has been chosen as Italian Reference Mediterranean Diet with the exception of percentage of energy provided by cereals that was lower and of fruits and vegetables that was higher. Saturated fatty acids were only the 6% of daily energy intake. Also the Mediterranean Adequacy Index (MAI) was very similar to that of the aforementioned diet.

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NUTRITION AS A BONES HEALTH FACTOR WITH SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE

Journal of IMAB - Annual Proceeding (Scientific Papers) ◽

10.5272/jimab.2020264.3426 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 3426-3431

Author(s):

Rositsa Chamova ◽

◽

Maria Panteleeva ◽

Eliyana Ivanova ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Bone Density ◽

Healthy Eating ◽

Bone Health ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Food Groups ◽

Daily Consumption ◽

Cross Sectional

Osteoporosis is a global health problem with increasing importance. It is a chronic, debilitating disease characterized by low bone density and deterioration of the micro architectonics of bone tissue. Although genetic factors largely determine the bone size and density, factors such as healthy eating, good physical activity and avoiding alcohol and smoking also play a key role. At all ages, healthy eating is an important factor in bone health. Aim: To study the eating habits that are important for bone health in women from Varna. Methods: A cross-sectional study of the eating habits of 139 women in Varna was conducted between January 2018 and March 2019. Questions, giving information on diet, frequency of consumption of certain food groups and beverages, affecting bone density, physical activity, demographic indicators are included in the questionnaire. Descriptive analysis of the data is done with SPSS version 19. Results: The average age of the participants was 29.86 ± 13.60 years. Daily consumption of milk and dairy products was found among 36.7% and 32.4% of the respondents respectively. The relative share of respondents who consume fish 1-2 times a week is 33.1%. The daily consumption of fruits and vegetables is 47.5% and 56.8% respectively. Conclusion: Nutrition plays an important role in reducing the risk of osteoporosis by affecting the development and maintenance of bone mass.

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Should Canadians eat according to the traditional Mediterranean diet pyramid or Canada’s food guide?

Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1139/h08-030 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 527-535 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Shauna M. Downs ◽

Noreen D. Willows

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Alcoholic Beverage ◽

Food Choices ◽

Single Category ◽

Education Tool ◽

Traditional Mediterranean Diet ◽

Health Canada

Eating well with Canada’s food guide (CFG) was developed by Health Canada as an education tool to encourage the Canadian public to have eating habits that meet nutrient needs, promote health, and reduce the risk of nutrition-related chronic disease. It was developed in the Canadian context and reflects the food supply available to Canadians, as well as food choices made by Canadians. There are other dietary patterns that are consistent with health such as the traditional Mediterranean diet (TMD), which has gained popularity in Canada. The potentially different food choices that Canadians could make if they were to follow one guide over the other might significantly influence population health. Although the two guides differ in their recommendations for red wine, fats, and meat and meat alternatives, they both promote a diet rich in grains, fruits, and vegetables. The CFG may have some advantages over the TMD for Canadians, such as focusing on vitamin D and recommending limited alcoholic beverage intake. Some shortcomings of the CFG compared with the TMD are the grouping of animal proteins with nuts, seeds, and legumes into a single category, and not recommending limits for red meat consumption. If Canadians following the CFG were to choose whole grains and vegetarian options from the meat and alternatives category more often, the CFG may be preferable to TMD for Canadians. The TMD is an alternative to the CFG for Canadians if sources of vitamin D are included in the diet and wine consumption is limited or is imbibed in moderation.

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Defining a Healthy Diet: Evidence for the Role of Contemporary Dietary Patterns in Health and Disease

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12020334 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 334 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Hellas Cena ◽

Philip C. Calder

Keyword(s):

Dietary Patterns ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Healthy Diet ◽

Total Evidence ◽

Food Groups ◽

Health And Disease ◽

Definition Of

The definition of what constitutes a healthy diet is continually shifting to reflect the evolving understanding of the roles that different foods, essential nutrients, and other food components play in health and disease. A large and growing body of evidence supports that intake of certain types of nutrients, specific food groups, or overarching dietary patterns positively influences health and promotes the prevention of common non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Greater consumption of health-promoting foods and limited intake of unhealthier options are intrinsic to the eating habits of certain regional diets such as the Mediterranean diet or have been constructed as part of dietary patterns designed to reduce disease risk, such as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) or Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diets. In comparison with a more traditional Western diet, these healthier alternatives are higher in plant-based foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts and lower in animal-based foods, particularly fatty and processed meats. To better understand the current concept of a “healthy diet,” this review describes the features and supporting clinical and epidemiologic data for diets that have been shown to prevent disease and/or positively influence health. In total, evidence from epidemiological studies and clinical trials indicates that these types of dietary patterns reduce risks of NCDs including cardiovascular disease and cancer.

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Impact of Physical Activity Practice and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Relation to Multiple Intelligences among University Students

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12092630 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 2630

Author(s):

José Luis Ubago-Jiménez ◽

Félix Zurita-Ortega ◽

Silvia San Román-Mata ◽

Pilar Puertas-Molero ◽

Gabriel González-Valero

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

University Students ◽

Multiple Intelligences ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Integral Development ◽

The University ◽

The Relationship

Physical activity is important at any time of life. Particularly in the university, people tend to have more sedentary life, due to their studies. Eating habits are another health factor to consider. In addition, the Multiple Intelligences theory is a proposal that seeks the integral development and well-being of people. A descriptive, cross-sectional, and non-experimental research with the purpose of this study is to establish the relationships between practice of physical activity and the intelligences and determine the relationship between diet and the different types of intelligence in 215 university students. Findings indicate higher adherence to Mediterranean Diet in women and higher physical activity scores in men. Regarding multiple intelligences, men have higher indices in Bodily-kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Logical-mathematical, Musical, and Spatial intelligences, while women show higher levels in relation to Linguistic, Intrapersonal, and Naturalistic intelligences. Main conclusions from this study suggest the relationship between multiple intelligence and healthy habits, while also highlighting the need to improve eating habits and achieve greater adherence to Mediterranean Diet.

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Level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet among children from Cyprus: the CYKIDS study

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980008003431 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 991-1000 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Chrystalleni Lazarou ◽

Demosthenes B Panagiotakos ◽

Antonia-Leda Matalas

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Primary Schools ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Leafy Vegetables ◽

Educational Tool ◽

Multiple Logistic Regression ◽

Food Groups ◽

The Mediterranean

AbstractBackgroundThe Mediterranean diet (MD) prototype is widely used as an educational tool in public health programmes; few studies, however, have been conducted on the adherence of children to this diet.ObjectiveTo evaluate the quality of Cypriot children’s diet by assessing the degree of adherence to the MD.MethodsA national cross-sectional study among 1140 children (mean age = 10·7 (sd0·98) years), using stratified multistage sampling design, was conducted in primary schools of Cyprus. Dietary assessment was based on a 154-item semi-quantitative FFQ and the two supplementary questionnaires (a Food Groups Frequency Questionnaire and a Short Eating Habits Questionnaire). Adherence to the MD was assessed by the KIDMED index. The association between the frequencies of consumption of various food groups and the level of adherence to the MD (poorv. averagev. good KIDMED score) was also evaluated. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to adjust for potential confounders.ResultsOnly 6·7 % of the sample was classified as high adherers of MD, whereas 37 % had a poor KIDMED score. Multiple logistic regression analysis has shown that children with at least an average KIDMED score were more likely to eat frequently seafood and fish, legumes, nuts, bread, fruits, leafy vegetables, olives, low glycaemic index foods and unrefined foods. Effect size of associations was from medium to high.ConclusionHigher adherence to MD is associated with better diet quality in children. The MD prototype may thus represent a useful educational tool for promotion of healthy eating habits in children.

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Homocysteine Levels Show Significant Differences among Mediterranean Dietary Quality Index Variables Compared to Folate and Vitamin B12 Status in Women

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000237 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 85 (3-4) ◽

pp. 202-210 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Ivona Višekruna ◽

Ivana Rumbak ◽

Ivana Rumora Samarin ◽

Irena Keser ◽

Jasmina Ranilović

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Quality Index ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Dietary Quality ◽

Vitamin B ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Poor Diet ◽

The Mediterranean

Abstract. Results of epidemiologic studies and clinical trials have shown that subjects following the Mediterranean diet had lower inflammatory markers such as homocysteine (Hcy). Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess female diet quality with the Mediterranean diet quality index (MDQI) and to determine the correlation between MDQI, homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 levels in the blood. The study participants were 237 apparently healthy women (96 of reproductive age and 141 postmenopausal) between 25 and 93 years. For each participant, 24-hour dietary recalls for 3 days were collected, MDQI was calculated, and plasma Hcy, serum and erythrocyte folate and vitamin B12 levels were analysed. Total MDQI ranged from 8 to 10 points, which represented a medium-poor diet for the subjects. The strength of correlation using biomarkers, regardless of group type, age, gender and other measured parameters, was ranked from best (0.11) to worst (0.52) for olive oil, fish, fruits and vegetables, grains, and meat, in this order. Hcy levels showed the best response among all markers across all groups and food types. Our study shows significant differences between variables of the MDQI and Hcy levels compared to levels of folate and vitamin B12 in participants with medium-poor diet quality, as evaluated according to MDQI scores.

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