| As an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), adult overweight remains a significant public health problem in Canada. Dietary consumption behaviour is an important factor in the development of overweight and obesity. The Mediterranean diet, characterized by high intake of olive oil, fruits and vegetables, whole wheat foods, legumes, fish and poultry and moderate wine consumption, is provisionally identified as a prudent dietary pattern associated with reduced CVD risk.; The Mediterranean dietary consumption pattern was examined in a randomly selected population sample of 759 adults 18–65 years residing in Peel Region, a multiethnic community near Toronto, using a cross-sectional telephone survey.; The principal components factorial structure of a qualitative food frequency questionnaire showed that food items aggregated into six low-order dietary factors and two high-order dietary patterns. The M-pattern reflected higher consumption of fruits and vegetables, olive oil and garlic, and fish and shellfish. The non-M pattern reflected fatty junk foods, meats and poultry, and sweet junk foods.; A higher M-score was positively associated with female gender, higher family income, higher education attainment, and advanced age.; The influence of the M-pattern on weight status, expressed as body mass index (BMI), was investigated by multiple regression analysis. Adjusting for antecedent sociodemographic factors (age, gender, education attainment, family income, and marital status), a higher M-score predicted a lower BMI only in the 40–49 year age group. The findings suggest that heart health promotion programs should be tailored toward improving dietary habits of this age group as the target population. |
