Adherence to Mediterranean dietary pattern in female adolescents. Issue 5 (13th July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Neshatbini Tehrani, Asal; Farhadnejad, Hossein; Salehpour, Amin; Moloodi, Reza; Hekmatdoost, Azita; Rashidkhani, Bahram
• Is Part Of: Nutrition & food science. Volume 48:Issue 5(2018)
• Page Start: 722
• Page End: 732
• Publication Date: 2018-07-13
• Subjects: Adolescents -- Lifestyle -- Mediterranean diet -- MSDPS -- Socio-demographic factors; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Food -- Periodicals; 664.005
• DOI: 10.1108/NFS-12-2017-0262
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0034-6659

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: To the best of our knowledge, the studies on determining adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern (MDP) in Iran as a non-Mediterranean country are scarce. Thus, the aim of the study is to determine the adherence to the MDP in a sample of female adolescents who are residents of Tehran, Iran. Design/methodology/approach: In this cross-sectional study, 263 female adolescents aged 15-18 years were studied. Information on socio-demographic, lifestyle and anthropometric variables were obtained using a structured questionnaire. Also, dietary intakes were determined using a validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire. Adherence to MDP was characterized using Mediterranean-style dietary pattern score (MSDPS). Findings: Typically, the mean ± SD MSDPS was low in the present study (15.9 ± 5.6). The mean ± SD age and body mass index of the study population was 16.2 ± 0.9 years and 22.2 ± 4.1 kg/m 2, respectively. In this study, the maximum MSDPS was 34.3, which was only one-third of maximum possible score (100). Multiple linear regression analyses showed that higher MSDPS scores were positively associated with age (standardized β = 0.1; p = 0.006), higher energy intake (standardized β = 0.2; p < 0.001) and marginally higher physical activity (standardized β = 0.1; p = 0.079). Originality/value: Understanding low adherence to MDP in Tehranian female adolescents can provide basic knowledge to launch systematic programmes for gravitation toward MDP.