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Primary school children and nutrition: lifestyles and behavioral traits associated with a poor-to-moderate adherence to the Mediterranean diet. A cross-sectional study

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Abstract

The Mediterranean diet has consistently shown a beneficial influence on health and longevity. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify all the various factors—such as socio-demographics, lifestyles, and behavioral traits—associated with the risk of a poor adherence to the Mediterranean diet in a sample of Italian primary school children. The study sample included 267 children in their first year of primary school. Their mothers were asked to answer an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire that investigated their children’s adherence to the Mediterranean diet (using the KidMed score) and variables related to their lifestyles, behavioral traits, and socio-economic factors. A multivariate logistic regression was performed to test the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the other variables investigated. Most of the children involved in this study (73.9%) were classifiable as having a poor-to-moderate adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Higher odds of a poor adherence to the Mediterranean diet were associated with videogame playing for more than 1 h a day and lower levels of mothers’ health consciousness. On the other hand, the odds were lower in association with more time spent practicing sport, higher levels of prosocial behavior, and with mothers having a high school education as opposed to fewer years of schooling.

Conclusions: These results point to the need to consider the role of mothers’ health consciousness and formal education in influencing their children’s diets. Health promotion interventions should focus on the importance of a healthy overall lifestyle, which includes not only appropriate nutrition but also time spent on physical activity and leisure activities (such as playing videogames).

What is Known:

• Most of the children were classified as having a poor or moderate adherence to the Mediterranean diet. This result reflects a trend common to numerous countries of the Mediterranean area in recent years.

• A mother’s level of formal education influences her child’s diet.

What is New:

• Higher levels of prosocial traits coincided with lower odds of a poor adherence to the Mediterranean diet.

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Abbreviations

MD:

Mediterranean diet

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Funding

Funding for this study was provided by Despar Nordest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hygiene and Public Health Unit, Department of Cardiological, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, and Public Health, University of Padua, Via Loredan 18, 35128, Padua, Italy

    Alessandra Buja, Giulia Grotto, Milena Sperotto & Vincenzo Baldo

  2. Affidea Poliambulatorio Morgagni, Via Cavazzana, 39/2, 35123, Padua, PD, Italy

    Filippo Brocadello

Authors
  1. Alessandra Buja
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  2. Giulia Grotto
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  3. Filippo Brocadello
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  4. Milena Sperotto
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  5. Vincenzo Baldo
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Contributions

Alessandra Buja conceptualized the study, coordinated all study phases, took part in data collection, conducted the statistical analyses, and approved the final manuscript as submitted.

Milena Sperotto designed the data collection tools and approved the final manuscript as submitted.

Alessandra Buja, Giulia Grotto, and Filippo Brocadello drafted the manuscript and approved the final version as submitted.

Vincenzo Baldo critically reviewed the interpretation of the data, revised the manuscript, and approved the final version as submitted.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alessandra Buja.

Ethics declarations

Ethical approval

This study was approved by the Padova Teaching Hospital’s Ethical Committee.

Informed consent

The children’s participation in the study was subject to the consent of the directors of the schools involved. If approved, the intervention program then became part of the school’s teaching plan, which always has to be signed by parents at the start of each academic year. Parents of the children participating in the study also signed an informed consent form.

Disclaimer

The company had no role in the design of the study, the collection, analysis, or interpretation of the data, the writing of the manuscript, or the decision to submit the paper for publication.

Additional information

Communicated by Mario Bianchetti

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Buja, A., Grotto, G., Brocadello, F. et al. Primary school children and nutrition: lifestyles and behavioral traits associated with a poor-to-moderate adherence to the Mediterranean diet. A cross-sectional study. Eur J Pediatr 179, 827–834 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-020-03577-9

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