Zani C, Ceretti E, Grioni S, Viola G C V, Donato F, Feretti D, Festa A, Bonizzoni S, Bonetti A, Monarca S, Villarini M, Levorato S, Carducci A, Verani M, Casini B, De Donno A, Grassi T, Bagordo F, Carraro E, Bonetta Si, Bonetta Sa, Gelatti U
Department of Medical and Surgical Specialities, Radiological Science and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Epidemiology and Prevention Unit, IRCCS Foundation, Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
Ann Ig. 2016 Sep-Oct;28(5):339-48. doi: 10.7416/ai.2016.2114.
The Mediterranean diet (MD) is considered one of the healthiest dietary models, as it decreases the risk of chronic diseases and may modulate the organism's early response to environmental pollution. In recent decades, Mediterranean countries have been replacing their traditional diet with other less healthy eating habits, especially among children and teenagers.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the MD and the level of adherence to it in 6-8 year old Italian children, in relation to residence, lifestyle, and social and family contexts.
A questionnaire was administered to the children's parents in two seasons in 5 Italian towns. The diet section contained 116 questions investigating the frequency of consumption of different types of food. The Italian Mediterranean Index (IMI) was calculated according to the intake of 6 typical Mediterranean and 4 non-Mediterranean foods. On the basis of IMI score, MD adherence was classified as low (≤ 3 IMI score), medium (4-5) and high (≥ 6). Total energy load and diet composition in micro- and macronutrients were calculated from consumption frequency.
Diet analysis was computed on 1164 subjects with two complete questionnaires. Body mass index, calculated for each subject, showed that 28.9% of the children were overweight, the figure varying slightly with area of residence. Our findings showed that 59.0% of the children had a low score for MD adherence.
The results of this study showed that most Italian children did not follow the MD and socio-economic characteristics appeared not to be associated with type of diet.
地中海饮食（MD）被认为是最健康的饮食模式之一，因为它能降低慢性病风险，并可能调节机体对环境污染的早期反应。近几十年来，地中海国家的传统饮食正被其他不太健康的饮食习惯所取代，尤其是在儿童和青少年中。
本研究旨在评估6至8岁意大利儿童的地中海饮食及其依从水平，以及与居住情况、生活方式、社会和家庭环境的关系。
在意大利5个城镇的两个季节里，向儿童的父母发放了一份问卷。饮食部分包含116个问题，调查不同类型食物的消费频率。根据6种典型地中海食物和4种非地中海食物的摄入量计算意大利地中海指数（IMI）。根据IMI得分，将地中海饮食依从性分为低（IMI得分≤3）、中（4 - 5）和高（≥6）。根据消费频率计算总能量负荷以及微量和宏量营养素的饮食组成。
对1164名完成两份完整问卷的受试者进行了饮食分析。计算得出的每个受试者的体重指数显示，28.9%的儿童超重，这一数字因居住地区略有不同。我们的研究结果表明，59.0%的儿童地中海饮食依从性得分较低。
本研究结果表明，大多数意大利儿童未遵循地中海饮食，社会经济特征似乎与饮食类型无关。
