Assessment of Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Behaviors of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Adolescents

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the adherence of adolescents to the Mediterranean diet and to determine their behaviors of fruit and vegetable consumption. Methods: The study involved 487 adolescents studying at high school in Ankara, Turkey. The study data were collected by using the questionnaire form involving general characteristics, anthropometric measurements, dietary habits, the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED), and the Scale of Processes of Change for Fruit and Vegetable Consumption (SPCFVC). The SPCFVC has two sub-dimensions, cognitive and behavioral. Independent Sample-t test, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney-U test, Kruskal-Wallis-H test, Pearson ?2- test, and Spearman correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data. Results: Among the participants, 51.5% were females and 48.5% were males. Of these, 11.1% were overweight and 1.9% were obese. The mean KIDMED, total SPCFVC, and behavioral SPCFVC scores were higher among males than females (p<0.05). It was found out that 31.6% of the males had a low, 55.6% had a moderate, and 12.8% had a good diet quality, while 43.4% of the females had a low, 48.2% had a moderate, and 8.4% had a good diet quality according to KIDMED. The adolescents who smoked, skipped breakfast, had a low number of main meals, and were not informed about healthy diet had statistically lower mean KIDMED and SPCFVC scores (p<0.05). Conclusion: The adherence of adolescents to the Mediterranean diet was low and moderate, males better adhered to the Mediterranean diet, and they could adapt to changes related to fruit and vegetable consumption more easily.