Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Cardiovascular Risk Factors among the Lebanese Population: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Post Hoc Study.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify the association between adherence to healthy eating, using the Lebanese Mediterranean Diet Scale (LMDS), and cardiovascular risk factors in the Lebanese population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study using a multistage cluster sample was conducted in Lebanon. Sociodemographic characteristics were collected through structured interviews and self-administered questionnaires. The LMDS assessed dietary habits. The associations between diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease were investigated using stratification analysis. RESULTS: The study included 2048 people (mean age 41.54 ± 17.09 years). Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with older age (Beta = 0.175, p < 0.001), being female (Beta = 0.085, p = 0.001), being married (Beta = 0.054, p = 0.047), participating in regular physical activity (Beta = 0.142, p < 0.001), and having cardiovascular disease (Beta = 0.115, p < 0.001) and diabetes (Beta = 0.055, p = 0.043). Adherence was, however, negatively associated with being a smoker (Beta = -0.083, p = 0.002), a previous smoker (Beta = -0.059, p = 0.026), and having higher distress levels (Beta = -0.079, p = 0.002). Stratification analysis by diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) consistently demonstrated these associations. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that demographic and health factors influence the Lebanese population's adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Older age, female gender, married status, physical activity, CVD, and diabetes were all found to be associated with adherence to the Mediterranean diet in the Lebanese population. In contrast, smoking and distress were inversely associated with it.