title: 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.
authors: Agricultural Research Council, Food and Nutrition Research Centre (CRA-NUT) , Rome , Italy and.
authors: Romana
authors: R
authors: Roccaldo
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Censi
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: D'Addezio
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Toti
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Martone
authors: Dina
authors: D
authors: D'Addesa
authors: Achille
authors: A
authors: Cernigliaro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D062408:Breakfast; D002648:Child; D003611:Dairy Products; D004032:Diet; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D007887:Fabaceae; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011634:Public Health; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables; D055105:Waist Circumference
keywords: Adherence; Italy; KIDMED; Mediterranean diet; children