Validity of the MED4CHILD tool for assessing adherence to the Mediterranean diet in preschool children

Autor segons l'article: Larruy-Garcia, Alicia; De Miguel-Etayo, Pilar; Babio, Nancy; Flores-Rojas, Katherine; Picans-Leis, Rosaura; Gomez-Martinez, Carlos; Miguel-Berges, Maria L; Martinez, J Alfredo; Corella, Dolores; de la Torre-aguilar, M Jose; Vazquez-Cobela, Rocio; Shyam, Sangeetha; Pastor-Villaescusa, Belen; Cordoba-Rodriguez, Diana Paola; Fernandez de la Puente, Maria; Jurado-Castro, Jose Manuel; Ni, Jiaqi; Navas-Carretero, Santiago; Leis, Rosaura; Gil-Campos, Mercedes; Salas-Salvado, Jordi; Moreno, Luis A

Departament: Bioquímica i Biotecnologia

Autor/s de la URV: Babio Sánchez, Nancy Elvira / Martínez Rodríguez, María Ángeles / Ni, Jiaqi / Salas Salvadó, Jorge

Paraules clau: Validation study; Surveys and questionnaires; Short screener; Reproducibility of results; Quality; Patter; Patient compliance; Overweight; Mediterranean pattern; Male; Index; Humans; Female; Feeding behavior; Dietary intake; Dietary intak; Diet, mediterranean; Diet surveys; Cross-sectional studies; Consumption; Childhood; Child, preschool; Child; Cardiometabolic risk factors; Cardiometabolic risk

Resum: Most of the available tools to assess adherence to Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) were constructed for adults, having limited applicability to children and adolescents. The aim of this study is to validate a specific questionnaire to assess adherence to MedDiet in children aged 3 to 6 years (MED4CHILD questionnaire). The validation was performed in a baseline examination of a cohort of children who were recruited in schools in seven cities. Of the total sample of 1509 children, we included 858 children aged 3 to 6 years with complete information on adherence to the MedDiet, food consumption, anthropometry and cardiometabolic characteristics. Adherence to the MedDiet was assessed using an 18-item questionnaire, adapted from validated questionnaire for adults using the Delphi method. Food and beverage consumption was assessed using a validated COME-Kids Food and Beverage Frequency Questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements and cardiometabolic risk factors were assessed using standard methods. Statistical analyses included kappa agreement, ANOVA and linear regression models. Higher MED4CHILD scores were associated with higher intakes of food characteristic of the MedDiet. The MED4CHILD questionnaire showed moderate validity, especially for key items of the Mediterranean diet (kappa ranging from 0.333 to 0.665). Direct significant associations were found between MED4CHILD scores and cardiometabolic profile, including waist circumference (p), triglycerides and HOMA-IR (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The 18-item MED4CHILD questionnaire showed moderate validity for assessing adherence to the MedDiet in children aged 3 to 6 years, in terms of agreement with food and beverage consumption and favourable cardiometabolic profile. What is known: center dot The Mediterranean diet has been linked to a number of health benefits and the assessment of children's adherence to this diet is important for public health and research. center dot The tools available to assess MedDiet compliance are mainly for adults. What is new: center dot The MED4CHILD questionnaire is a simple, inexpensive and rapid tool for assessing MedDiet compliance in children. center dot This tool showed moderate relative validity and a high score was associated with a favourable cardiometabolic profile.

Àrees temàtiques: Saúde coletiva; Pediatrics, perinatology and child health; Pediatrics; Odontología; Nutrição; Medicina iii; Medicina ii; Medicina i; Interdisciplinar; General medicine; Farmacia; Educação física; Ciências biológicas iii; Ciências biológicas ii; Ciências biológicas i; Ciências ambientais; Biotecnología

Accès a la llicència d'ús: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/

Adreça de correu electrònic de l'autor: jiaqi.ni@urv.cat; mangeles.martinez@urv.cat; jiaqi.ni@urv.cat; jordi.salas@urv.cat; nancy.babio@urv.cat

Data d'alta del registre: 2025-02-17

Versió de l'article dipositat: info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Enllaç font original: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00431-024-05945-1

Referència a l'article segons font original: European Journal Of Pediatrics. 184 (2): 130-

Referència de l'ítem segons les normes APA: Larruy-Garcia, Alicia; De Miguel-Etayo, Pilar; Babio, Nancy; Flores-Rojas, Katherine; Picans-Leis, Rosaura; Gomez-Martinez, Carlos; Miguel-Berges, Mar (2025). Validity of the MED4CHILD tool for assessing adherence to the Mediterranean diet in preschool children. European Journal Of Pediatrics, 184(2), 130-. DOI: 10.1007/s00431-024-05945-1

URL Document de llicència: https://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/

DOI de l'article: 10.1007/s00431-024-05945-1

Entitat: Universitat Rovira i Virgili

Any de publicació de la revista: 2025

Tipus de publicació: Journal Publications