Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with sustainable nutrition and environmental footprints on higher educated individuals

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Med-Diet adherence with sustainable nutrition and environmental footprints in academicians.

Methods:

The study involved 153 academicians aged 23-64 working in a university in Turkey. Data were collected through a questionnaire including socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scale (MEDAS) and Sustainable and Healthy Eating Behaviours Scale (SHEBS). Carbon and water footprints were calculated.

Results:

All sub-scales of SHEBS were higher in individuals who adhered to Med-Diet than those who did not (p<0.05). The carbon and water footprints of individuals with high adherence to the Med-Diet were lower than those of no adherence (p<0.05). Each 1-point increase in MEDAS score was associated with a 1-point increase in SHEBS score, a 0.15 CO2 eq/kg and a 0.001 m3/year decrease in the amount of carbon and water footprint of food.

Conclusion:

Higher adherence to the Med-Diet was associated with higher sustainable nutrition behaviours, and lower environmental footprints.

KEYWORDS:

• Mediterranean diet
• sustainability
• sustainable diet
• education level

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the participants who devoted their time to the data collection.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.