The Effect of Parental Education on Mediterranean Diet Adherence among School Children in Shiraz, Southern Iran

Background: Recent changes in the actual Mediterranean diet include a reduced energy intake and a higher consumption of foods with low nutrient density. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of parental education on Mediterranean diet adherence among school children inShiraz, Southern Iran.Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 150 male 12-15 years school children in Shiraz, southern Iran were enrolled. Children and their parents completed standardized questionnaires, which evaluated parents’ educational level and dietary habits. Anthropometric indices including weight, height, waist circumference and hip circumference were measured. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed. Data fro 86 items food frequency questionnaire were used to calculate the score.Results: Totally, 12.3% of children had high adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Logistic regression showed that adolescents’ adherence to the Mediterranean diet had a significant relationship with the level of parent’s education (p