(P22-039-24) Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors of 2,533 Chinese Middle-Aged Adults: Analysis of the WeWATCH Healthy Lifestyle Project

Objectives: To examine the sex difference of Mediterranean diet adherence in Hong Kong middle-aged adults, and its association with cardiometabolic risk factors.

Methods: We have analyzed the baseline data of 2,553 middle-aged adults participated in a health promotion project, namely the WeWATCH Healthy Lifestyle Project. The adherence to Mediterranean diet (assessed by the 13-point Mediterranean Diet score [MDS]), demographics, lifestyle factors and medical history was self-reported, and the levels of body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC], waist-to-height ratio [WHtR], body fat %, fasting blood glucose and blood lipids, were examined by physical assessment. We compared the sex differences of MDS, and performed regression analysis to investigate whether a higher adherence to Mediterranean diet improves cardiometabolic risk factors.

Results: Female participants had a higher overall MDS and the higher rate of fulfilling individual MDS items than males, except for the consumption of olive oil, legumes, commercial sweets and confectionery. Higher MDS associated with the lower levels of adiposity indicators and blood pressure of all participants (β = -0.06 to -0.28), but the association was only significant among females when stratified by sex (β = -0.08 to -0.36). Higher MDS also associated with the lower odds of low HDL and elevated LDL among males (OR= 0.59 to 0.71), and the lower odds of elevated general and central obesity among females (OR= 0.76 to 0.78).

Conclusions: A higher adherence to Mediterranean diet improves obesity indicators and blood pressure particularly among female participants, which will be warranted in the prospective analysis.

Funding Sources: Projects of RISA and Start-up Fund for New Recruits