Effect of a nutritional intervention promoting the Mediterranean food pattern on anthropometric profile in healthy women from the Québec city metropolitan area.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a nutritional intervention promoting a Mediterranean food pattern on anthropometric profile in healthy women. DESIGN: Nutritional intervention study. SETTING: Laval University, Canada. SUBJECTS: Seventy-seven healthy women started the study and four did not complete the study. METHODS: A 12-week nutritional intervention in free-living conditions consisted of two group courses on nutrition and seven individual sessions with a dietitian. A follow-up visit was performed 12 weeks after the end of the intervention (week 24). A Mediterranean dietary score (MedScore), based on the 11 components of the Mediterranean pyramid, was established to evaluate the adherence to the Mediterranean food pattern. RESULTS: Small but significant decreases in body weight and waist circumference were observed after 12 weeks of intervention (0.5 kg and 1.2 cm, respectively (P<0.01)). Increase in partial MedScore for legumes, nuts and seeds (increase in consumption) as well as increase in partial MedScore for sweets (decrease in consumption) were significantly associated with changes in waist circumference (r=-0.36, P=0.001; r=0.24, P=0.05, respectively). No association was observed between changes in anthropometric profile and changes in the consumption of olive oil. CONCLUSION: Changes in dietary food pattern, more specifically an increase in the consumption of legumes, nuts and seeds, and a decrease in the consumption of sweets, were associated with some beneficial changes in anthropometric profile.