Adhering to a Mediterranean diet in a Mediterranean country: an excess cost for families?

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Alves, R (Author) Other; Lopes C (Author) FMUP; Rodrigues, Sara (Author) FCNAUP; Perelman, J (Author) Other

Journal

Title: British Journal of Nutrition

Pages: 1-24

ISSN: 0007-1145

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

Crossref

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences

CORDIS: Health sciences

Associated Projects

EFSA - Portuguese Dietary Survey (2012-2015) - Support to national dietary surveys in compliance with the EFSA Guidance on General principles for the collection of national food consumption data in the view of a pan-European dietary survey"

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00V-736

DOI: 10.1017/s0007114521002518

Abstract (EN): <jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:sec id="S0007114521002518_as1"> <jats:title>Background:</jats:title> <jats:p>Adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been decreasing in southern Europe, which could be linked to several cultural or educational factors. Our aim is to evaluate the extent to which economic aspects may also play a role, exploring the relationship between food prices in Portugal and adherence to the Mediterranean diet.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec id="S0007114521002518_as2"> <jats:title>Methods:</jats:title> <jats:p>We evaluated data from the Portuguese National Food, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Survey (IAN-AF 2015-2016) (n=3,591). Diet expenditures were estimated by attributing a retail price to each food group and the diet was transposed into the Mediterranean Diet Score used in the literature. Prices were gathered from five supermarket chains (65% of the Portuguese market share). Linear regression models were used to assess the association between different adherence levels to the MD levels and dietary costs.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec id="S0007114521002518_as3"> <jats:title>Results:</jats:title> <jats:p>Greater adherence to the MD was associated with a 21.2% (p< 0.05) rise in total dietary cost, which accounts for more 0.59¤ in mean daily costs when compared with low adherence. High adherence individuals (vs. low adherence) had higher absolute mean daily costs with fish (0.62¤/+285.8%; p< 0.05), fruits (0.26¤/+115.8%; p< 0.05), and vegetables (0.10¤/+100.9%; p< 0.05). The analysis stratified by education and income level showed significantly higher mean daily diet cost only amongst higher income groups.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec id="S0007114521002518_as4"> <jats:title>Conclusions:</jats:title> <jats:p>Our findings suggest that greater adherence to the MD was positively and significantly associated with higher total dietary cost. Policies to improve population¿s diet should take into consideration the cost of healthy foods, especially for large low- and middle-income families.</jats:p> </jats:sec>

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific