Association between Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Anthropometric and Health Variables in College-Aged Males

Abstract

The present study aimed to verify the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and anthropometric and health variables. Four-hundred-and-ninety-five college-aged males aged 18–25 participated in this cross-sectional research. The KIMED (Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents) was used to assess the adherence to MD. The following variables were also assessed: body mass (BM), height (HE), body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (%FAT), lean mass (LEAN), abdominal girth (AG), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), oxygen saturation (SPO2), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), double product (DP), and fasting blood glucose (GLU). The results showed that adherence to MD presented a strong negative correlation with most of the anthropometric parameters (BM: r = −0.571; BMI: r = −0.614; %FAT: r = −0.558; and AG: r = −0.564), a moderate or weak correlation with most of the health variables (GLU: r = −0.407; SBP: r = −0.238; DBP: r = −0.217, and DP: r = −0.265) and LEAN (r = −0.497), and a very weak correlation with WHR (r = −0.090). Many anthropometric parameters (BM, BMI, %FAT, LEAN, AG, WHR) present significant correlations with health variables (SBP, DBP, DP, and GLU). We conclude that greater adherence to Mediterranean diet is associated with healthier values of the selected anthropometric and health parameters. Since most of the anthropometric and health parameters present significant correlations among themselves, this finding could be useful in medical diagnosis, health monitoring, and risk detection. Based on the level of adherence to Mediterranean diet and the KIDMED found in the present study, and considering the prevalence of obesity in the Middle East, it is imperative to implement nutritional interventions with the target population of this research to prevent nutrition-related diseases and promote public health.

Association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet with cardiometabolic risk factors: a cross-sectional study on PERSIAN cohort study in Fasa

“…However, in contrast to us, they also found the association of the MDS with all adiposity measures except waist to hip ratio. In the same direction, Prieto-González et al reported correlations between better adherence to the Mediterranean diet and lower BMI and body fat in college males and a very weak correlation with waist to hip ratio 22 . Consistent with our findings, waist-related variables such as waist circumference and waist to height ratio have been the only anthropometric measures which inversely associated with adherence to the Mediterranean diet in some investigations 23 – 25 but there are also studies in which no association was found with measures of general or abdominal obesity or body fat 13 .…”

“…Similar to other cardiometabolic risk factors, the relationship of blood glucose and the Mediterranean dietary pattern is controversial and both cases of an inverse 22 , 26 , 27 or no 26 , 28 , 29 relationship have been reported. The same scenario exists for HDL cholesterol as there are reports on both positive (i.e.…”

Evaluation of the Relationships Among Mindful Eating, Environmental Beliefs, Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet, and Obesity in Children

“… 60 Decreased adherence to the MD has resulted in adopting dietary patterns less conducive to optimal health, leading to a decline in nutritional quality. 61 , 62 In a population-based and observational study in Greece, adhering to the MD may have a protective effect against childhood overweight or obesity. 63 Research indicates a positive association between physical activity and other health-promoting behaviors, such as appropriate dietary intake and adherence to MD, among children and adolescents.…”

Health Determinants Associated with the Mediterranean Diet: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…The authors point out the importance of carrying out further research that contemplates people with pathologies in order to provide an answer to the unknown. However, it is to be expected that in the population with CVD, cancer and other chronic NCDs, a change in dietary pattern will occur after their detection and diagnosis, since diet plays a very important role in the prevention of these pathologies, and specifically the MD is referenced in many medical guides as a recommended dietary pattern [ 49 , 50 , 51 ].…”