The relationship between Mediterranean diet adherence and mindful eating among individuals with high education level

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the adherence to the Mediterranean diet and mindful eating of individuals with a high level of education. Methods: This study conducted between November 2019 and March 2020 with 188 academicians participation. General information form, Mediterranean diet adherence scale (MEDAS) and mindful eating scale (MEQ-30) were used in the data collection. The data were collected via face to face interview method by the researcher. Results: The mean age of the participants was 33.95 ± 11.97 years (range: 22-65 years). According to the findings, majority of the participants (56.4%) showed low adherence to the Mediterranean diet and 73.9% of them had higher mindful eating. Besides, although the difference were not significant, participants with high adherence to the Mediterranean diet had higher MEQ-30 scores and higher BMI (p>0.05). The MEDAS score has positively correlated with the dimensions of the MEQ. As the disinhibition, the emotional eating, the control of eating, the mindfulness and the interference increased of the individual, the adherence to the Mediterranean diet increased simultaneously (p<0.05). Conclusion: It is obvious that higher education level may be a predictive factor of mindful eating in company with compliance to the Mediterranean diet. These two eating attitudes may have beneficial effects on BMI and eating patterns of an individual which would result in weight loss and better health status.