Ricerca Partner FAFB-EU-SMCP-4

Richiesta di una Università Israeliana alla ricerca di partner italiani da includere in
un loro progetto inerente il topic KBBE-2008-2-2-3: Obesity prevention
in the Mediterranean area (SICA Mediterranean), presente nel nuovo
bando del Tema 2 - "Food, agriculture and fisheries and Biotechnology".

Contattare prete@apre.it, facendo riferimento al codice PARTNER SEARCH FAFB-EU-SMCP-4

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------- PARTNER SEARCH FAFB-EU-SMCP-4 --------
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<Reference n.: FAFB-EU-SMCP-4>
<Deadline: 26/02/2008>
<Programme: FAFB>
<Project Title: EM-MD-BMI-Adol - Eating module, Mediterranean diet
adherence and body mass index in adolescents >
<Financial Scheme: Small and Medium collaborative Project>
<Description:
TOPIC: KBBE-2008-2-2-3: Obesity prevention in the Mediterranean area
(SICA Mediterranean)

DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH ACTIVITY:
In spite of the well documented health-related advantages of the
Mediterranean diet, obesity is becoming a serious issue in the
Mediterranean area.  Factors associated with eating module and with
adherence with the classic Mediterranean diet should be explored, in
order to propose intervention measures to promote healthy eating
habits. This is especially important in children and adolescents,
since obesity early in life is associated with higher prevalence of
adult obesity, and thus with higher prevalence of diet-related chronic
diseases and disorders.
The aim of the proposed study is (1) to explore the relationship
between body mass index and adherence with healthy eating module
(Mediterranean eating habits) and with Mediterranean diet by using
standardized tools; (2) to assess the efficacy of a nutritional
education intervention program in changing eating modules and BMI in
adolescents.
This is a two-stage project, the first stage, descriptive and the
second, interventional.
In the first study stage, existing databases on nutrition and health
status in adolescents will be used to explore the relationship between
body mass index, based on either measured or reported height and
weight, and individual eating module as well as adherence with
Mediterranean diet, based on individual dietary data. The association
between the two independent variables (eating module and Mediterranean
diet) and physical activity patterns as well as self reported
weight-reduction dieting will also be examined.
The second study phase will consist of an intervention program. A
representative national sample of 13-17 years old high-school students
will be selected on the basis of their schools. They will fill out a
basic questionnaire, focusing on demographic variables, health habits,
eating patterns, attitudes toward eating and dieting, as well as self
reported height and weight. They will also fill out a 24-h dietary
recall questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height,
waist and hip circumferences) will also be taken. An explanatory
lecture will be given to the students and to their parents regarding
the project. Then the participants will be randomly allocated into two
groups. The intervention group will be exposed to a nutritional
educating program focusing on healthy eating modules and on
Mediterranean diet. The control group will also be meeting with
nutrition experts on a regular basis, but not specifically educated
about healthy eating module and Mediterranean diet. The intervention
will last 6 months. The two groups will fill out both questionnaires
and undergo anthropometric measurements at the end of the
intervention. Comparison between the two groups, before and after the
intervention, will be carried out.
One of the potential reasons for the increasing trend for obesity in
the Mediterranean region is a low adherence to the traditional
Mediterranean diet in face of modernization and urbanization. A
constructed ranking of a healthy eating module is a convenient tool to
assess and compare healthy eating habits as well as fast food
consumption. Change of health and nutrition habits in young people is
expected to have a long term impact. If the results of our descriptive
and intervention study will indicate that education regarding the
promotion of better eating module and better adherence to the
traditional Mediterranean diet is efficient concerning body mass
index, physical activity patterns and dieting habits or Mediterranean
eating habits, this may provide an accessible risk modifying tool and
contribute to lowering obesity rates in the Mediterranean region.

<Organisation Type: Università>
<Partner Sought: University, SME, Research organisation>