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Nutrients
Volume 13
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10.3390/nu13124252
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Article

Anthropometric Parameters and Mediterranean Diet Adherence in Preschool Children in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia—Are They Related?

by
Dora Bučan Nenadić
1,2,*,
Ela Kolak
1,2,*,
Marija Selak
1,2,
Matea Smoljo
2,
Josipa Radić
3,4,
Marijana Vučković
3,
Bruna Dropuljić
2,
Tanja Pijerov
2 and
Dora Babić Cikoš
2
1
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, University Hospital Centre Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
2
Croatian Association of Nutritionists, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
3
Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, University Hospital Centre Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
4
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Split School of Medicine, 21000 Split, Croatia
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nutrients 2021, 13(12), 4252; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13124252
Submission received: 14 November 2021 / Revised: 24 November 2021 / Accepted: 25 November 2021 / Published: 26 November 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary, Lifestyle and Children Health)
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Abstract

Obesity is a rapidly growing problem in European countries, Croatia being among them. According to the latest CroCOSI data, every third child in Croatia aged 8.0–8.9 years is overweight or obese. The Mediterranean diet (MeDi) and its impact on nutritional status and health has been the focus of recent research. Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional, observational study was to determine the nutritional status and adherence to the MeDi of preschool children in Split, Croatia. We included 598 preschool children aged 3 to 7 years and, for each child, parents completed a lifestyle questionnaire and the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) in order to assess adherence to the MeDi. The anthropometric assessment included the measurement of weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), waist circumference (WC) and the z-score was calculated. According to the z-score, 420 (70.2%) children had a healthy body weight with 54 (9%) underweight and 124 (20.8%) overweight or obese children. Almost half (49%) of the study participants had a low KIDMED index score, indicating a low MeDi adherence, 37% had an average score, while only 14% had high MeDi compliance. Statistically significant negative correlations between MUAC and WC and the consumption of a second daily serving of fruit (p = 0.04) as well as a daily serving of vegetables (p = 0.03) were found. In conclusion, low compliance to the MeDi principles in preschool children is concerning. Considering the beneficial effects of the MeDi on overall health, further education, and the adoption of healthy eating habits in preschool children in this Mediterranean region are required.
Keywords: preschool children; nutritional status; eating habits; Mediterranean diet; Split-Dalmatia County preschool children; nutritional status; eating habits; Mediterranean diet; Split-Dalmatia County

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MDPI and ACS Style

Bučan Nenadić, D.; Kolak, E.; Selak, M.; Smoljo, M.; Radić, J.; Vučković, M.; Dropuljić, B.; Pijerov, T.; Babić Cikoš, D. Anthropometric Parameters and Mediterranean Diet Adherence in Preschool Children in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia—Are They Related? Nutrients 2021, 13, 4252. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13124252

AMA Style

Bučan Nenadić D, Kolak E, Selak M, Smoljo M, Radić J, Vučković M, Dropuljić B, Pijerov T, Babić Cikoš D. Anthropometric Parameters and Mediterranean Diet Adherence in Preschool Children in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia—Are They Related? Nutrients. 2021; 13(12):4252. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13124252

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bučan Nenadić, Dora, Ela Kolak, Marija Selak, Matea Smoljo, Josipa Radić, Marijana Vučković, Bruna Dropuljić, Tanja Pijerov, and Dora Babić Cikoš. 2021. "Anthropometric Parameters and Mediterranean Diet Adherence in Preschool Children in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia—Are They Related?" Nutrients 13, no. 12: 4252. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13124252

APA Style

Bučan Nenadić, D., Kolak, E., Selak, M., Smoljo, M., Radić, J., Vučković, M., Dropuljić, B., Pijerov, T., & Babić Cikoš, D. (2021). Anthropometric Parameters and Mediterranean Diet Adherence in Preschool Children in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia—Are They Related? Nutrients, 13(12), 4252. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13124252

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