engleski

Evaluation of diet with Mediterranean Diet Score in relationship with body mass index among middle-aged women from North-Mediterranean area of Croatia

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and BMI among middle – aged women. Methods: Forty-two women from North – Mediterranean area in Croatia, with an average age of 58.81 years and BMI of 27.87kg/m2 fulfilled food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed by a 9-point Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) incorporating the characteristics of their diet. Results: Adherence to Mediterranean diet was mostly low (41%) and moderate (41%). Strong positive correlations were seen between MDS and dietary variables: energy (p<0.01), dietary fibre (p<0.01), fish (p<0.01), legumes (p<0.01), vegetables (p<0.01), fruits (p<0.01) and olive oil (p<0.01). MUFA to SFA ratio correlated well with MDS with p<0.011. In contrast to above positive correlations that were significant, we didn’t found significant correlation between BMI and MDS. Furthermore, our study revealed 57.1% of overweight women and 21.4% of women with obesity. Obesity positively correlated to energy (p<0.05), fats (p<0.05), cholesterol (p<0.01), eggs (p<0.05) and olive oil (p<0.05). Conclusion: Among studied women, we found better relationship between MDS and eligible body mass index than between MDS and obesity. We have observed adequate adherence to Mediterranean diet only in one fourth of the women in this study. Conclusively, our results demonstrate a significant public health message in the region of the Northern Mediterranean Area of Croatia. Respectively, we believe that the adoption of Mediterranean dietary habits moderate the prevalence of obesity, and probably chronic non- infectious diseases like obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers.

Mediterranean diet; obesity; overweight; body mass index; score

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