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Association between Family Meals and the Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Spanish Adolescents

Andrew A Shalá, Gemma López-Guimera, Jordi Fauquet, Joaquim Puntí, David Leiva and David Sánchez-Carracedo

Introduction: Few studies have assessed the role of family meals in the Mediterranean diet (MD). Simultaneously, family meal frequency (FMF) has been associated with healthier lifestyles.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the association between FMF and MD adherence in Spanish adolescents.
Methods: A cross-sectional analysis with the baseline data of a multi-center (11 schools from the province of Barcelona) trial was performed. Socio-demographic and anthropometric data, as well as frequency of family breakfast, lunch and dinner were analyzed. MD adherence was assessed with the KIDMED questionnaire. The association between FMF and KIDMED was evaluated with a linear mixed effects regression model.
Results: Adolescents (n=1473) reported a weekly frequency of family breakfast, lunch and dinner of 2.1, 4.5 and 5.6 times, respectively. MD adherence was medium in 58.4% of the adolescents, low in 16.0% and high in 25.6%. As MD adherence increased, there was an increase in the proportion of males and of adolescents with universityeducated parents, as well as a higher frequency of the three family meals. The model showed that MD adherence was associated with parental education and with the frequency of family breakfast and dinner.
Conclusion: This is the first study to document the association between family meals and MD adherence. Family dinner and breakfast appear to be associated with MD adherence, and since breakfast shows low frequency it should be taken into account in the design of health interventions.