Title:Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Physical Activity Level in Adolescents
During the Lockdown in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional
Study in Greek Island of Rhodes
Volume: 19
Issue: 4
Author(s): Charistoula Chatzinikola, Vasileios Papavasileiou*Antonios Koutelidakis*
Affiliation:
- Department of Preschool Education and Educational Design, University of the Aegean, 85132 Rhodes, Greece
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Unit of Human Nutrition, Laboratory of Nutrition and Public Health, University
of the Aegean, Limnos 81400, Greece
Keywords:
Mediterranean diet, sustainability, KIDMED, adolescents, covid pandemic lockdown, SDGs.
Abstract:
Background: Nutrition is involved in various ways in the 17 distinct SDGs of the
United Nations Agenda 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic is testing the world, threatening health,
nutrition, education, and social protection.
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the adolescents’ adherence to the Mediterranean
diet that attended senior high school in the Greek city of Rhodes during the lockdown period.
Methods: In this cross-sectional, observational study, the sample of the research was 227 students
aged 11-15 years old, who self-reported their weight and height and completed validated
questionnaires for their nutritional attitudes.
Results: The percentages of students who were overweight/obese were 22.5% of the total sample
(17.2% overweight and 5.3% obese) according to the IOTF (International Obesity Taskforce)
cutoffs and 30.4% (21.6% overweight and 8.8% obese) according to the WHO (World Health
Organization) cutoffs. The average KIDMED score of the sample was medium (6.00) and the
adherence to the Mediterranean diet of the sample needs improvement.
Conclusion: Results support a shift from the traditional Mediterranean diet to more unhealthy
eating patterns. Adolescents' limited physical activity mainly on weekdays was reported, and further
research could examine the role of distant education in this behavior. Policies and strategies
targeting the students’ population are essential for adolescents’ nutrition education and the
improvement of their dietary habits toward the sustainable Mediterranean diet, during the
specific circumstances of covid pandemic.