Adherence to Mediterranean Diet among Lebanese University Students.

Joanne Karam,Mireille Serhan,Maria Del Mar Bibiloni,Josep A Tur

doi:10.3390/nu13041264

Abstract

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.

Highlights

In Lebanon, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has attained alarming rates in adults, adolescents, and children due to an energy-dense diet and lack of physical activity [1]
On non-nutritional background, students who worked in parallel showed higher results of Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) adherence score (8.4 ± 2.1) than those that only studied (7.9 ± 2.2), and nonsmokers (8.1 ± 2.1) showed higher scores than smokers (7.7 ± 2.3)
No difference was observed among genders, unlike other studies among Lebanese university students showing a higher adherence to Lebanese MedDiet among women [16] and higher consumption of westernized diet among men [17]

Summary

Introduction

In Lebanon, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has attained alarming rates in adults, adolescents, and children due to an energy-dense diet and lack of physical activity [1]. According to a systematic review, high adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) was significantly related to less overweight and more weight loss [2]. It is important to assess the degree of adherence to the MedDiet through accurate measurement tools such as dietary scores [4]. Poor adherence to MedDiet has been found among the Lebanese adult population [5]. Directing governments’ political actions toward spreading adherence to the MedDiet’s principles as much as possible among the population could help to tackle the obesity epidemic [6]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion