EVALUATION OF ADHERENCE TO THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET USING THE KIDMED INDEX IN ADOLESCENTS FROM MOULAY ABDELLAH COMMUNE, MOROCCO

Objectives. The Mediterranean diet (MD), considered healthy, is increasingly abandoned by adolescents. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess adherence to the MD and its associated factors among adolescents in a predominantly rural area of Morocco. Material and methods. A total of 211 adolescents aged 14–18 years were included. Socio-demographic and socioeconomic data were collected using a structured questionnaire, anthropometric measurements were performed, and MD adherence was assessed using the KIDMED index. Results. Higher adherence to the MD was observed among boys, adolescents living in rural areas, and those from higher-income households or whose fathers were engaged in agricultural or intellectual professions. Conversely, lower adherence was more frequent among girls, adolescents living in precarious housing, and those from low-income families. An inverse association was observed between MD adherence and excess weight, with lower BMI, BMI z-score, and WHtR among adolescents with higher adherence. Conclusions. These findings highlight the influence of individual, familial, and environmental factors on adolescent dietary behaviors and support a socio-ecological perspective on adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Given the cross-sectional design of the study, the observed associations should be interpreted with caution. Keywords: Mediterranean diet; KIDMED score; weight status; health status; adolescents