Abstract
The Mediterranean diet (MD) is based on the traditional cuisine of south European countries, and it is considered one of the healthiest dietary patterns worldwide. The promotion of combined MD and physical activity has shown major benefits. However, the association between physical activity and the MD in regular fitness center users is still insufficiently investigated. This cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted on 1220 fitness center users in Croatia. The survey consisted of three parts: general information, the Mediterranean Diet Serving Score (MDSS) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF). The results showed that 18.6% of fitness center users were adherent to the MD, and there was a significant positive correlation between the level of physical activity and the MDSS score (r = 0.302, p < 0.001). Moreover, after dividing the sample into tertiles based on the IPAQ-SF score, the third tertile (MET > 3150 min/wk) had the most fitness center users (34.4%) adherent to the MD, while the first tertile (MET < 1750 min/wk) had the least (6.1%). These outcomes emphasize the importance of physical activity as they imply that, with higher levels of physical activity, people are also possibly more aware of the importance that a healthy and balanced diet has on their well-being.
Highlights
It is well established that regular exercise combined with a diversified and balanced diet can lead to a longer, healthy and more satisfying life [1–3]
Regarding the components of the Mediterranean Diet Serving Score (MDSS), the highest adherence was in the consumption of potatoes (84.3%) and white meat (82.4%), while the lowest adherence was in the wine consumption (8.0%) (Table 3)
The findings of this study showed that 18.6% of fitness center users were adherent to the Mediterranean diet (MD), and there was a significant positive correlation between the level of physical activity and the MDSS score in this population
Summary
It is well established that regular exercise combined with a diversified and balanced diet can lead to a longer, healthy and more satisfying life [1–3]. Physical activity as a beneficial mechanism on health was first investigated in 1950s in correlation with cardiovascular diseases [4]. In addition to reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, it was established that physical activity has a positive impact on preventing serious illnesses such as diabetes, depression and obesity [5,6]. Besides a balanced diet, physically active people commonly use dietary supplements to enhance results and ensure optimal nutrient intake [7]. Dietary supplements can be defined as food additions containing higher levels of proteins, vitamins and other micronutrients made to amplify and boost regular diet [8]
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