PD908 - THE DELICIOUS PROJECT: A MULTICOMPONENT PROGRAM TO IMPROVE ADHERENCE TO THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET AND PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

PD908

THE DELICIOUS PROJECT: A MULTICOMPONENT PROGRAM TO IMPROVE ADHERENCE TO THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET AND PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

E. Frias-Toral^1,2,*, J. Godos³, A. Ammar^4,5, J. Di Giorgio³, A. Di Mauro³, A. Leonardi³, A. Mata⁶, A. Chacón⁶, P. Busó⁶, G. Grosso³

¹School of Medicine, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Samborondon, Ecuador, ²Division of Research, Texas State University, San Marcos, United States, ³Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy, ⁴Department of Training and Movement Science, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany, ⁵Research Laboratory, Molecular Bases of Human Pathology, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia, ⁶Technological Institute for Children's Products and Leisure AIJU, Alicante, Spain

Rationale: Dietary patterns in Mediterranean regions are increasingly shifting away from the traditional Mediterranean diet, resulting in a substantial worsening of diet quality, especially among younger generations. The aim of this study was to investigate a multicomponent program designed to promote Mediterranean diet quality and healthy lifestyle behaviors in school children and adolescents.

Methods: A diverse cohort of students from schools participating in the EU-funded DELICIOUS project was enrolled. A pre-post design was employed in a random sample of participants to measure changes in diet quality indices and lifestyle behaviors. The program included educational sections (using school books and booklets), digital tools (video games), practical activities (including cooking workshops and the development of new snack products), and physical activity programs. A variety of validated tools were administered to assess potential variables of interest.

Results: A total of 696 students participated in the pre-post survey. A significant improvement in adherence to the Mediterranean diet was found; however, no reduction in processed food consumption was reported. Lifestyle behaviors, such as breakfast habits, physical activity, and family meal frequency, also showed positive changes. No relation was found between actual diet quality and nutrition knowledge, or attitudes toward healthy eating. Parents, among other factors, were found to be predictive of adherence to the Mediterranean diet and consumption of unhealthy processed foods. The latter was mostly associated with perceived stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.

Conclusion: Diet quality and lifestyle behaviors in children and adolescents can be influenced by structured, multicomponent programs, thereby promoting healthier youth populations.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared