Relationship between Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Quality of Life, Anthropometry, and Dietary Intake among Turkish Adolescents

Objective: Adolescence is a critical period for the development of lifelong dietary habits, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet is known to be associated with various health benefits. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and quality of life, anthropometric variables, and dietary intake among adolescents.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between October and November 2023 with 480 adolescents (51.3% female) aged 12–18 years residing in the Kadıköy district of Istanbul. Data were collected through face- to-face interviews using a questionnaire that included the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index, the Quality of Life Short Form (SF-36), a three-day dietary intake record, and sociodemographic information. Anthropometric measurements were taken by the researchers.Results: The mean age of participants was 15.15±1.99 years, with 51.3% being female, 15.6% overweight, and 11.6% obese. Among the adolescents, 27.5% had poor adherence to the Mediterranean diet. The prevalence of overweight (12.9%) and obesity (22.0%) was significantly higher among those with poor KIDMED scores (p <0.05). As the KIDMED score increased, body weight and body mass index decreased, whereas general health and vitality scores increased. The KIDMED score showed positive correlations with the intake of protein (%), fat (%), dietary cholesterol, fiber, vitamins A, B2, B6, C, folate, calcium, and magnesium, and a negative correlation with carbohydrate (%) intake.Conclusion: most adolescents had poor to moderate adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Since adherence to the Mediterranean diet was found to be associated with BMI, quality of life, and dietary intake, improving diet quality among adolescents may contribute to better quality of life and optimized anthropometric outcomes. Therefore, promoting the Mediterranean dietary pattern could be beneficial for enhancing adolescent health.