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Worldwide adherence to Mediterranean Diet between 1960 and 2011

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 72, pages 83–91 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

From the 1960s to the early 21st-century adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) declined around the world. This was partly due to the westernization of eating habits. However, in the last decade a new variable came into play, the economic crisis, which may have affected dietary patterns.

Objective

We analyzed worldwide trends of adherence to the MD between the periods 1961–1965, 2000–2003 and 2004–2011.

Methods

Data was obtained from the Food and Agriculture Organization Food Balance Sheets in three study periods: 1961–1965, 2000–2003 and 2004–2011. The Mediterranean Adequacy Index (MAI) was calculated for 41 selected countries using the averages of available energy intake for different food groups. Changes in MAI indicated the trends in adherence in the different periods.

Results

In many countries, MAI deteriorated from 1961 to 1965 and 2004 to 2011, yet an increase was observed in 16 countries. Between the last two observation periods, MAI values stabilized in 16 of the 41 selected countries. Regional rankings for the three study periods based on descending MAI scores were: Southern Mediterranean, Mediterranean Europe, Central Europe and Northern Europe.

Discussion and Conclusions

Adherence to the MD significantly decreased between 1961–65 and 2000–03, whereas from 2004–2011 there was a stabilization of MAI values and even an increase among 16 countries. Efforts are needed to preserve the dietary traditions and lifestyle habits within the Mediterranean region in order to counteract increasing rates of chronic disease.

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Funding

The present project was conducted for the Paralelo 40-World Mediterranean Diet Surveillance System. This article is published as part of a supplement sponsored by the Mediterranean Diet Foundation and the Diputació de Barcelona.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mediterranean Diet Foundation, Barcelona, Spain

    Cristina Vilarnau, Ramón Estruch & Anna Bach-Faig

  2. Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), Barcelona, Spain

    Cristina Vilarnau & Anna Bach-Faig

  3. Lecturer, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States

    Denine Marie Stracker

  4. Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain

    Anna Funtikov

  5. Ordem dos Nutricionistas (Portuguese Council of Nutritionists), Porto, Portugal

    Rui da Silva

  6. Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Clinic, August Pi Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain

    Ramón Estruch

  7. CIBEROBN (Center for Research on Obesity and Nutrition), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

    Ramón Estruch

  8. Food and Nutrition Area, Barcelona Official College of Pharmacists, Barcelona, Spain

    Anna Bach-Faig

Authors
  1. Cristina Vilarnau
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anna Bach-Faig.

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Conflict of interest

RE has received lecture fees from Brewers of Europe, Belgium, Cerveceros de España, Spain, Fundación Dieta Mediterránea, Instituto Cervantes, Madrid, Interprofesional del Aceite de, Oliva, Madrid, Spain, Lilly Laboratories SA, Spain. RE has also received grant support from Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) Obesidad, Health Research Project grant from the Carlos III Institute of Health, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain (FIS), La Marató Foundation of TV3, Grand Fontaine, SA, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), USA. None of the other authors report any conflicts of interest.

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Vilarnau, C., Stracker, D.M., Funtikov, A. et al. Worldwide adherence to Mediterranean Diet between 1960 and 2011. Eur J Clin Nutr 72 (Suppl 1), 83–91 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0313-9

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