2024-07-12 15:00:00
Interventions based on the Mediterranean diet produced improvements in several cardiometabolic parameters – systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol and bad cholesterol (LDL), and an increase in good cholesterol (HDL) – in children. and the youth.
The results of this study published in ‘Jama Network‘ and directed by researcher José Francisco López Gil, from A Health Research Group, American University of Quito (Ecuador) suggests that promoting the Mediterranean diet among young people can be an effective strategy to improve their cardiometabolic health and prevent future cardiovascular diseases. This, López Gil points out to ABC Salud, “is essential to the design of public health programs that focus on prevention from age.”
In his opinion, the results can influence nutritional recommendations for children and adolescents, “promoting the adoption of the Mediterranean diet as an important component to improve cardiometabolic health and prevent diseases associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome and other risk factors.”
Interventions based on the Mediterranean diet can have a significant impact on reducing the prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases in the young population. Although we cannot give reliable estimates in terms of numbers, improvement in parameters such as blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and metabolic diseases in the long term.
Asked about what public health policies can be done to encourage the acceptance of the Mediterranean diet in this population, López Gil proposes “promoting programs in educational institutions to integrate nutritional education based on Mediterranean food in school curricula; subsidies and access to healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables and other foods typical of the Mediterranean diet; conduct public information campaigns to talk about the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, or design community programs that include cooking and gardening workshops to promote access to and awareness of Mediterranean foods.
The maintenance of the Mediterranean diet in Spain was evaluated using indicators such as Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for Children and Adolescents (KIDMED for its acronym in English), which measures adherence to this diet based on eating characteristic foods and limiting unhealthy foods.
However, in Spain, no matter how much we brag about the Mediterranean diet, the truth is that less than half of the Spaniards follow it. According to data from the Mediterranean Diet Foundation, less than 45% of the population follows it.
What to do to promote it?
José Francisco López Gil knows that there are many potential barriers to the adoption of the Mediterranean diet in many children and young populations: Limited access to fresh foods, food choices and cultural attitudes, the cost of healthy foods, since like the quality of fresh and high quality foods. can be more expensive than ultra-process options, and lack of education and knowledge of the benefits of this diet.
The results of this study, adds the author of the study, can guide future research in nutrition and public health by investigating the long-term benefits of the Mediterranean diet, discovering specific strategies, adaptations that are adapted to different people, and implementation of multicenter studies.
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