The Easy Thing (ET) observational study: evaluation of adherence to Mediterranean diet and role of a program of nutritional intervention performed by North Naples 2 Local Health Unit

L. Montella, N. Liguori, L. Tondini, L. Castellone, D. Pacella, S. Del Prete, P. Bove, M. Berretta, M. Vanni, G. Facchini

Santa Maria delle Grazie Hospital, Medical Oncology Unit, Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy. liliana.montella@aslnapoli2nord.it

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• Nutrition

OBJECTIVE: The present observational study has the aim to describe the nutritional habits and adherence to Mediterranean diet within a dietary intervention performed by North Naples 2 Local Health Unit in some areas of Campania region.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire which takes in consideration several kinds of food and the related daily or weekly portions has been administered to people evaluated in the study. An increased score reflects an increased adherence to Mediterranean diet. Patients have been grouped by age, body mass index, education, socio-economic level, income, and score reported to the administered survey. Nutritional intervention has also been evaluated as concerns weight reduction during time.

RESULTS: Surveys were administered to 200 patients aged from 12 to 79 years from 21 November 2018 to 27 November 2019. Obese patients were 61.5% in this population. 67.7% of obese people participating to this study had primary/lower secondary school education. 61.5% of study population have been categorized as having a low or low-medium socio-economic level and 68% of them were obese. An intermediate adherence to Mediterranean Diet has been the most represented (76.5%), a significant difference has been found among the groups normal weight, overweight and obese for the variables age, education and income. Obese patients in the present study had metabolic diseases more frequently than normal-weight patients.

CONCLUSIONS: A high rate of obese people requesting nutritional counseling showed intermediate/bad adherence to Mediterranean Diet, reflecting the diffuse change from Mediterranean Diet to Western habits in nutrition. The nutritional intervention was found to be effective, especially for overweight patients. These data underline the need for further larger epidemiological analysis and public health interventions.

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