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Food, youth and the Mediterranean diet in Spain. Development of KIDMED, Mediterranean Diet Quality Index in children and adolescents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Lluís Serra-Majem*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, PO Box 550, E-35080 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain Foundation for the Advancement of the Mediterranean Diet, Community Nutrition Research Centre, University of Barcelona Science Park, Barcelona, Spain
Lourdes Ribas
Affiliation:
Foundation for the Advancement of the Mediterranean Diet, Community Nutrition Research Centre, University of Barcelona Science Park, Barcelona, Spain
Joy Ngo
Affiliation:
Foundation for the Advancement of the Mediterranean Diet, Community Nutrition Research Centre, University of Barcelona Science Park, Barcelona, Spain
Rosa M Ortega
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Alicia García
Affiliation:
Foundation for the Advancement of the Mediterranean Diet, Community Nutrition Research Centre, University of Barcelona Science Park, Barcelona, Spain
Carmen Pérez-Rodrigo
Affiliation:
Community Nutrition Unit, Bilbao City Council, Bilbao, Spain
Javier Aranceta
Affiliation:
Community Nutrition Unit, Bilbao City Council, Bilbao, Spain
*
*Corresponding author: Email lserra@dcc.ulpgc.es
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Abstract

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Objective:

To evaluate dietary habits in Spanish children and adolescents based on a Mediterranean Diet Quality Index tool, which considers certain principles sustaining and challenging traditional healthy Mediterranean dietary patterns.

Design:

Observational population-based cross-sectional study. A 16-item Mediterranean Diet Quality Index was included in data gathered for the EnKid study (in which two 24-hour recalls, a quantitative 169-item food-frequency questionnaire and a general questionnaire about socio-economic, demographic and lifestyle items were administered).

Setting:

Spain.

Subjects:

In total, 3850 children and youths aged 2–24 years residing in Spain.

Results:

Of the sample, 4.2% showed very low KIDMED index results, 49.4% had intermediate values and 46.4% had high index results. Important geographical differences were seen, with subjects from the Northeast showing the most favourable outcomes (52% with elevated scores vs. 37.5% of those from the North). Lower percentages of high diet quality were observed in low socio-economic groups, compared with middle and upper income cohorts (42.8%, 47.6% and 54.9%, respectively). Large cities had more positive results and only slight variations were seen for gender and age.

Conclusions:

The KIDMED index, the first to evaluate the adequacy of Mediterranean dietary patterns in children and youth, confirms that this collective is undergoing important changes, which makes them a priority target for nutrition interventions. Results challenge certain commonly perceived notions tied to income level, population size and diet quality.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2004

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