Abstract
Eating behaviour was studied, between 1985 and 2000, in three groups of volunteers, homogeneous in age and sex. Groups comprised 320 young, 450 adult and 230 elderly University students. Frequency of meals, food portion consumption and preferences, nutritional status, anthropometric indices and physical activity were assessed by an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Dietary data included food and beverages, as well as the ingredients used to prepare the dishes, thus reflecting regional habits. Nutritional data record the eating pattern of the subjects, as related to macro- and micro-nutrient intake.
Results of this study show that the eating behaviour of the Ligurian population is in accordance with the recommendations in favour of the choice of the ?Mediterranean Diet?, which allows preferences of ?orexigenic? foods, but also of satiating and high dietary fibre foods, while intakes of animal fats were acceptable.
