Health Literacy and Its Association with the Adoption of the Mediterranean Diet: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Health literacy (HL) is a crucial factor influencing health-related decisions, including dietary patterns. The Mediterranean diet is widely recognized as one of the healthiest eating patterns. This study aims to explore the association between HL levels among adults in socially vulnerable contexts and their adoption of the Mediterranean diet. Conducted as part of a cluster-randomized trial in primary schools, the research involved 557 parents of children aged 6 to 10 who consented to participate. HL was assessed using the HLS questionnaire, while adoption of the Mediterranean diet was evaluated using the MEDAS questionnaire. Participants also provided anthropometric and sociodemographic data via a questionnaire, from which BMI was calculated (weight/height2). Education level was categorized as higher education or lower and professional status was classified based on occupational categories. Generalized linear models and logistic regression were employed for analysis. The findings indicate a direct association between HL level and adoption of the Mediterranean diet (B = 0.022, 95% CI 0.010-0.035, p < 0.001), underscoring the influence of HL on dietary choices. Specifically, the healthcare dimension of HL emerges as pivotal in shaping dietary behaviors, particularly towards the Mediterranean diet. These results underscore the importance of policies and programs aimed at enhancing HL, especially among socially vulnerable populations. Prioritizing public health interventions to improve HL is critical for promoting better dietary decision-making.

The Role of Parental Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Family Time Together in Children's Weight Status: The BeE-School Project.

The family context has been associated with children's weight status. This study aims to investigate the association of parents' adherence to the Mediterranean diet and family time with the weight status of children. The research is part of BeE-school, a cluster-randomized trial implemented in primary schools located in socially vulnerable contexts. A total of 735 children (380 boys and 355 girls) aged 6 to 10 participated in the study. Anthropometrics were assessed during school time, and weight status was categorized, while parents self-reported sociodemographic variables, adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MEDAS questionnaire), and family time. Children from families with higher education levels whose parents have a high adherence to the Mediterranean diet have lower odds of overweight/obesity (odds ratio (OR) 0.301, 95% CI 0.143-0.634, p = 0.002). Also, children from families with lower education levels who have more time together with their family have lower odds of overweight/obesity (OR 0.731, 95% CI 0.573-0.934, p = 0.012). The family environment, mainly family time together and adherence to the Mediterranean diet, exerts a significant influence on children's weight status. Professionals working in children's health should consider the family when fostering health-promoting behaviors.

Escala de empoderamento juvenil pela educação em saúde: estudo de validação / Escala de empoderamiento juvenil por la educación para la salud: estudio de validación / Youth empowerment through health education scale: validity study

Resumo Objetivo Validar o conteúdo e a aparência da Escala de Empoderamento Juvenil pela Educação em Saúde (EJEduS) após uma intervenção educativa. Métodos Estudo metodológico realizado mediante a avaliação da Escala de Empoderamento Juvenil pela Educação em Saúde (EJEduS) pelos critérios de relevância, clareza e pertinência, por especialistas na temática como também por adolescentes escolares e de uma comunidade quilombola. A análise deu-se pelo Índice e pelo Coeficiente de Validade de Conteúdo, além do cálculo de Gwet AC2, para verificar a concordância inter e intraespecialistas. Resultados Dos 50 itens iniciais da escala, observou-se a necessidade de reformulação de 18 deles e a exclusão de 11 após discussão de consenso com os adolescentes. A concordância intraespecialistas se mostrou quase perfeita para os três critérios: relevância (Gwet: 0,894; IC95% 0,825-0,919), clareza (Gwet: 0,848; IC95% 0,816-0,879) e pertinência (Gwet: 0,896; IC95% 0,870-0,923). Na análise de concordância intra-adolescentes, observou concordância quase perfeita (Gwet: 0,96; IC95% 0,917-1), e com taxas de Índice e Coeficiente de Validade de Conteúdo aceitáveis de concordância, ambos com 0,91. Conclusão A escala apresentou Índices de Validade de Conteúdo e aparência satisfatórios para aferir o empoderamento juvenil pela educação em saúde.

Resumen Objetivo Validar el contenido y la apariencia de la Escala de Empoderamiento Juvenil por la Educación para la Salud (EJEduS) después de una intervención educativa. Métodos Estudio metodológico realizado mediante la evaluación de la Escala de Empoderamiento Juvenil por la Educación para la Salud (EJEduS), según criterios de relevancia, claridad y pertinencia, tanto por especialistas del tema, como también por adolescentes escolares y de una comunidad quilombola. El análisis se realizó a través del Índice y del Coeficiente de Validez de Contenido, además del cálculo de Gwet AC2, para verificar la concordancia inter e intraespecialistas. Resultados De los 50 ítems iniciales de la escala, se observó la necesidad de reformular 18 de ellos y de excluir 11 luego de una discusión de consenso entre los adolescentes. La concordancia intraespecialistas demostró ser casi perfecta en los tres criterios: relevancia (Gwet: 0,894; IC95 % 0,825-0,919), claridad (Gwet: 0,848; IC95 % 0,816-0,879) y pertinencia (Gwet: 0,896; IC95 % 0,870-0,923). En el análisis de concordancia intraadolescentes, se observó concordancia casi perfecta (Gwet: 0,96; IC95 % 0,917-1) y con valores aceptables de concordancia del Índice y Coeficiente de Validez de Contenido, ambos 0,91. Conclusión La escala presentó Índices de Validez de Contenido y apariencia satisfactorios para determinar el empoderamiento juvenil por la educación para la salud.

Abstract Objective To validate the Youth Empowerment Through Health Education Scale (EJEduS) content and appearance after an educational intervention. Methods This is a methodological study carried out through EJEduS assessment by relevance, clarity and pertinence criteria by experts in the subject as well as by school adolescents and from a quilombola community. The analysis was performed using the Content Validity Coefficient and Content Validity Index, in addition to calculating the Gwet AC2 to verify inter- and intra-expert agreement. Results Of the initial 50 items on the scale, 18 needed to be reformulated and 11 were excluded after consensus discussion with adolescents. The intra-expert agreement was almost perfect for the three criteria: relevance (Gwet: 0.894; 95%CI 0.825-0.919), clarity (Gwet: 0.848; 95%CI 0.816-0.879) and pertinence (Gwet: 0.896; 95%CI 0.870-0.923). In the intra-adolescent agreement analysis, an almost perfect agreement was observed (Gwet: 0.96; 95%CI 0.917-1), with acceptable agreement rates of Content Validity Coefficient and Content Validity Index, both with 0.91. Conclusion The scale presented satisfactory Content Validity Indexes and appearance to measure youth empowerment through health education.