Compliance with Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (Kidmed) and Eating Patterns in School-age Children with Gaziantep, Turkey

Abstract

Purpose/Aim: The Mediterranean diet is reported as a healthy eating pattern with protective effects on cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, obesity and oxidative stress related disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between Mediterranean Diet Ouality Index (KIDMED), body composition and eating patterns in school-age children of Gaziantep, Turkey. Methods: The body weight (kg) and height (cm) are evaluated in accordance with the standards, body mass index (BMI) values >2 SD per age has been classified as obesity, body height under <- 2 SD per age has been evaluated as short body height (stunding), this evaluations are in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO, 2006) standards. The body composition of children is evaluated by Tanita BC 418, the degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed by the KIDMED Index. The eating patterns of children have been obtained by 23-item questionnaire method. Results: A 26.5 % of the children obesity and 50.4 % shortness have been determined, whereas 7.7 % and 40.6 % have a good and a poor KIDMED index, respectively. A negative and statistically significant relation (p<0.05) has been indicated between the current body fat and the KIDMED index score. It has been determined that 38.4 % of the children omit meals, usually (54.7 %) breakfast is omitted. Also, 37.9 % of children prefer take tea during breakfast. Conclusion: Moreover encourage of childrens' adherence to Mediterranean diet in Gaziantep, there is a need for national plans and politicals to minimise childrens' shortness as a best measurement of nutritional status.