Sociodemographic, nutritional and health status factors associated with adherence to Mediterranean diet in an agricultural Moroccan adult's population

Background. Numerous studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) on many chronic diseases, including chronic kidney disease (CKD). Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the adherence of a rural population to the Mediterranean diet, to identify the sociodemographic and lifestyle determinants and to analyze the association between adherence to MD and CKD. Material and Methods. In a cross-sectional study, data on sociodemographic, lifestyle factors, clinical, biochemical parameters and diet were collected on a sample of 154 subjects. Adherence to MD was assessed according to a simplified MD score based on the daily frequency of intake of eight food groups (vegetables, legumes, fruits, cereal or potatoes, fish, red meat, dairy products and MUFA/SFA), using the sex specific sample medians as cut-offs. A value of 0 or 1 was assigned to consumption of each component according to its presumed detrimental or beneficial effect on health. Results. According to the simplified MD score, the study data show that high adherence (44.2%) to MD was characterized by intakes high in vegetables, fruits, fish, cereals, olive oil, and low in meat and moderate in dairy. Furthermore, several factors such as age, marital status, education level, and hypertension status were associated with the adherence to MD in the study population. The majority of subjects with CKD have poor adherence to the MD compared to non-CKD with a statistically insignificant difference. Conclusions. In Morocco, maintaining the traditional MD pattern play crucial role for public health. More research is needed in this area to precisely measure this association

Prevalence of obesity and hypertension in the region of Khouribga (Morocco): Effects of socio-demographic and lifestyle factors

Obesity is characterized by an excessive accumulation of body fat is in continuous increase associated with cardiovascular risks and health disadvantages. Objective: The aim was to the study the prevalence and the determining factors of the association of obesity and hypertension in the Moroccan population of Khouribga province hitherto unstudied. A cross-sectional survey was conducted oi 2019 among a random sample of 401 adults of both sexes, from urban and rural areas. Anthropometric parameters and blood pressure were measured. Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), were calculated, Socio-demographic characteristics and physical activity level are determined. Anthropometric variables are significantly different in women and men. General obesity (BMI>30) was prevalent in 33.1% and abdominal obesity in more than 75%. Both general and abdominal obesity do not show any significant difference between urban and rural areas of residence. Hypertension was present in 35.5% in both sexes, significantly higher in rural men (57%) compared to urbans. Obesity increases with sedentarity. Obesity and hypertension increase with age and manifest themselves beyond the age of 35. Women with more than three children are obese. The present study data show that body weight management is related to origin, age, number of children as parameters associated with obesity. The prevalence of hypertension is associated with severe obesity. Abdominal obesity could be a predictive parameter of hypertension in the Moroccan population of the study province