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British Journal of Nutrition British Journal of Nutrition

Article contents

Is adherence to the Mediterranean diet associated with healthy habits and physical fitness? A systematic review and meta-analysis including 565 421 youths

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 December 2020

Antonio García-Hermoso ,
Yasmin Ezzatvar Open the ORCID record for Yasmin Ezzatvar[Opens in a new window] ,
José Francisco López-Gil Open the ORCID record for José Francisco López-Gil[Opens in a new window] ,
Robinson Ramírez-Vélez ,
Jordi Olloquequi  and
Mikel Izquierdo
Antonio García-Hermoso*
Affiliation:
Navarrabiomed, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra (CHN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), IdiSNA, 31008Pamplona, Spain Escuela de Ciencias de la Actividad Física, el Deporte y la Salud, Laboratorio de Ciencias de la Actividad Física, el Deporte y la Salud, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, USACH, 71783-5Santiago, Chile
Yasmin Ezzatvar
Affiliation:
Department of Physiotherapy, Exercise Intervention for Health Research Group (EXINH-RG), Universitat de València, 46003Valencia, Spain
José Francisco López-Gil
Affiliation:
Departamento de Actividad Física y Deporte, Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte, Universidad de Murcia, 30720San Javier, Spain
Robinson Ramírez-Vélez
Affiliation:
Navarrabiomed, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra (CHN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), IdiSNA, 31008Pamplona, Spain
Jordi Olloquequi
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, 3460000Talca, Chile
Mikel Izquierdo
Affiliation:
Navarrabiomed, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra (CHN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), IdiSNA, 31008Pamplona, Spain
*
*Corresponding author: Antonio García-Hermoso, email antonio.garciah@unavarra.es
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Abstract

The relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour and physical fitness levels has been analysed in several studies; however, there is mixed evidence among youth. Thus, this study aimed to meta-analyse the associations between adherence to the MD, PA, sedentary behaviour and physical fitness among children and adolescents. Three databases were systematically searched, including cross-sectional and prospective designs with a sample of healthy youth aged 3–18 years. Random effects inverse-variance model with the Hartung–Knapp–Sidik–Jonkman adjustment was used to estimate the pooled effect size (correlation coefficient (r)). Thirty-nine studies were included in the meta-analysis, yielding a total of 565 421 youth (mean age, 12·4 years). Overall, the MD had a weak-to-moderate positive relationship with PA (r 0·14; 95 % CI 0·11, 0·17), cardiorespiratory fitness (r 0·22; 95 % CI 0·13, 0·31) and muscular fitness (r 0·11; 95 % CI 0·03, 0·18), and a small-to-moderate negative relationship with sedentary behaviour (r –0·15; 95 % CI –0·20, –0·10) and speed–agility (r –0·06; 95 % CI –0·12, –0·01). There was a high level of heterogeneity in all of the models (I2 ≥ 75 %). Overall, results did not remain significant after controlling for sex and age (children or adolescents) except for PA. Improving dietary habits towards those of the MD could be associated with higher physical fitness and PA in youth, lower sedentary behaviours and better health in general.

Keywords

Healthy dietMuscular fitnessCardiorespiratory fitnessChildrenSedentary behaviour
Type
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , First View , pp. 1 - 12
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

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