Comparative Study Regarding the Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and the Eating Habits of Two Groups—The Romanian Children and Adolescents Living in Nord-West of Romania and Their Romanian Counterparts Living in Italy
Background: The Mediterranean diet (MD) is associated with significant health benefits, including prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Given the important migratory flow from Romania to Italy in recent decades, this study seeks to evaluate the differences between the nutritional habits of...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/10/9/2045 |
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| author | Costanza Pira Gianfranco Trapani Maurizio Fadda Concetta Finocchiaro Enrico Bertino Alessandra Coscia Catalina Ciocan Magdalena Cuciureanu Simona-Codruţa Hegheş Maria Vranceanu Doina Miere Lorena Filip |
| author_facet | Costanza Pira Gianfranco Trapani Maurizio Fadda Concetta Finocchiaro Enrico Bertino Alessandra Coscia Catalina Ciocan Magdalena Cuciureanu Simona-Codruţa Hegheş Maria Vranceanu Doina Miere Lorena Filip |
| author_sort | Costanza Pira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The Mediterranean diet (MD) is associated with significant health benefits, including prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Given the important migratory flow from Romania to Italy in recent decades, this study seeks to evaluate the differences between the nutritional habits of Romanian children and adolescents in Romania compared with those of Romanian children who moved to Italy or were born in Italy from both Romanian parents. Method: To assess adherence to MD, parents of Romanian children in Romania (RCR) and Romanian children in Italy (RCI) answered questions from an adapted version of the KIDMED test. Results: The results show that the high KIDMED index among RCI is significantly higher than the same index among RCR (68.09 versus 17.76, <i>p</i> < 0.05). RCR obtained a higher KIDMED score on different items: they had a lower consumption of fast food and sweets but an increased consumption of nuts, yogurts, and cheese. Conclusions: RCI have a better adherence to MD, but, at the same time, they are more exposed to westernized diet and practice less physical activity. Nutrition education is an important tool for improving health outcome. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:40:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a2b87e4bd6ae4a7bb7ec8dbdfa6270e5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:40:51Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj.art-a2b87e4bd6ae4a7bb7ec8dbdfa6270e52023-11-22T13:03:23ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582021-08-01109204510.3390/foods10092045Comparative Study Regarding the Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and the Eating Habits of Two Groups—The Romanian Children and Adolescents Living in Nord-West of Romania and Their Romanian Counterparts Living in ItalyCostanza Pira0Gianfranco Trapani1Maurizio Fadda2Concetta Finocchiaro3Enrico Bertino4Alessandra Coscia5Catalina Ciocan6Magdalena Cuciureanu7Simona-Codruţa Hegheş8Maria Vranceanu9Doina Miere10Lorena Filip11Department of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition at A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza in Turin, 10100 Turin, ItalyAlfred Nobel Friend’s Studies Center, 18030 Sanremo, ItalyDepartment of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition at A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza in Turin, 10100 Turin, ItalyDepartment of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition at A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza in Turin, 10100 Turin, ItalyNeonatal Unit of Turin University at A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, 10100 Turin, ItalyNeonatal Unit of Turin University at A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, 10100 Turin, ItalyDepartment of Occupational Medicine at A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza in Turin, 10100 Turin, ItalyDepartament of Pharmacology, Gr.T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartament of Drug Analysis, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj Napoca, RomaniaDepartament of Toxicology, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj Napoca, RomaniaDepartament of Bromatology, Hygiene, Nutrition, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj Napoca, RomaniaDepartament of Bromatology, Hygiene, Nutrition, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj Napoca, RomaniaBackground: The Mediterranean diet (MD) is associated with significant health benefits, including prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Given the important migratory flow from Romania to Italy in recent decades, this study seeks to evaluate the differences between the nutritional habits of Romanian children and adolescents in Romania compared with those of Romanian children who moved to Italy or were born in Italy from both Romanian parents. Method: To assess adherence to MD, parents of Romanian children in Romania (RCR) and Romanian children in Italy (RCI) answered questions from an adapted version of the KIDMED test. Results: The results show that the high KIDMED index among RCI is significantly higher than the same index among RCR (68.09 versus 17.76, <i>p</i> < 0.05). RCR obtained a higher KIDMED score on different items: they had a lower consumption of fast food and sweets but an increased consumption of nuts, yogurts, and cheese. Conclusions: RCI have a better adherence to MD, but, at the same time, they are more exposed to westernized diet and practice less physical activity. Nutrition education is an important tool for improving health outcome.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/10/9/2045Mediterranean diet (MD)Western dietimmigrationItalyRomania |
| spellingShingle | Costanza Pira Gianfranco Trapani Maurizio Fadda Concetta Finocchiaro Enrico Bertino Alessandra Coscia Catalina Ciocan Magdalena Cuciureanu Simona-Codruţa Hegheş Maria Vranceanu Doina Miere Lorena Filip Comparative Study Regarding the Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and the Eating Habits of Two Groups—The Romanian Children and Adolescents Living in Nord-West of Romania and Their Romanian Counterparts Living in Italy Foods Mediterranean diet (MD) Western diet immigration Italy Romania |
| title | Comparative Study Regarding the Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and the Eating Habits of Two Groups—The Romanian Children and Adolescents Living in Nord-West of Romania and Their Romanian Counterparts Living in Italy |
| title_full | Comparative Study Regarding the Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and the Eating Habits of Two Groups—The Romanian Children and Adolescents Living in Nord-West of Romania and Their Romanian Counterparts Living in Italy |
| title_fullStr | Comparative Study Regarding the Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and the Eating Habits of Two Groups—The Romanian Children and Adolescents Living in Nord-West of Romania and Their Romanian Counterparts Living in Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparative Study Regarding the Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and the Eating Habits of Two Groups—The Romanian Children and Adolescents Living in Nord-West of Romania and Their Romanian Counterparts Living in Italy |
| title_short | Comparative Study Regarding the Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and the Eating Habits of Two Groups—The Romanian Children and Adolescents Living in Nord-West of Romania and Their Romanian Counterparts Living in Italy |
| title_sort | comparative study regarding the adherence to the mediterranean diet and the eating habits of two groups the romanian children and adolescents living in nord west of romania and their romanian counterparts living in italy |
| topic | Mediterranean diet (MD) Western diet immigration Italy Romania |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/10/9/2045 |
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