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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Given the rising rates of overweight and obesity, a growing number of individuals are seeking guidance from nutrition practitioners. This study aimed to assess adherence to nutrition intervention (Mediter-ranean Diet, MD) and its association with adiposity.
METHODS: We conducted this observational study at Hospital CUF Tejo with a sample of 53 patients with overweight and obesity regularly attending nutrition appointments. Participants completed a structured online questionnaire, and adherence to the MD was assessed through the PREDIMED questionnaire (low ? 5; mod-erate 6–9; high ?10). The number of appointments attended, follow-up duration, anthropometric and body composition data were extracted from clinical records.
RESULTS: Participants attended, on average, 3 nutrition consultations and had a moderate adherence to the MD. Weight, BMI and waist circumference significantly decreased after nutritional counselling, with a maintenance of weight and BMI 1 year and 10 months post-treatment. Age was positively and significantly associated with MD adherence (? = 0.047; 95% CI: 0.001;0.094). Male sex was associated with higher weight (? = 13.105; 95% CI: 7.663;18.547) and waist circumference (? = 6.695; 95% CI: 2.106;11.284) at the last nutrition appointment. Physical activity was negatively associated with waist circumference at the last appointment (? = -4.342; 95% CI: -8.648;-0.037). No association was observed between MD adherence and adiposity-related markers at the last nutrition consultation.
CONCLUSION: Tailored nutritional counselling provided by a nutrition professional in patients with overweight and obesity results in moderate adherence to the intervention and a reduction of adiposity-related markers.