The global burden of lifestyle-related diseases is increasing, with poor diets and sedentary behaviors being major contributors to chronic illnesses and millions of deaths each year. These trends are particularly concerning for younger generations, whose unhealthy habits threaten future public health and place strain on healthcare systems. Authorities must prioritize creating environments that support healthier behaviors, especially by engaging youth through innovative and technology-driven approaches. Collaborative efforts, like EU-funded projects, highlight the potential for meaningful change, with shared findings helping to strengthen global intervention strategies. This seminary provides an overview of the preliminary results of PRIMA EU-funded initiatives promoting healthy lifestyles in the Mediterranean region.
This was the rationale behind the conference π·ππππππππ πππππππ ππππππππππ ππ πππ π΄ππ ππππππππππ πΉπππππ: πππ ππππ ππ π·πΉπ°π΄π¨ π¬πΌ ππππ ππ ππππππππ, organised on the 26th of September whithin the framework of DELICIOUS at the UniversitΓ di Catania. This was possible thanks to Giuseppe Grosso, associate professor of Human Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Catania and team member of DELICIOUS. Students and professors at the university had the chance to find our more about the activities that we have done at DELICIOUS and some of the results we have obtained.
Juancho Pons Vega (EDELVIVES), Laura VΓ‘zquez AraΓΊjo (BCC Innovation), Pablo BusΓ³ (AIJU), Javier Pinilla Criado (GlobalEduca) and Mohamed Aly (Assiut University) shared key insights and findings from their work in the project regarding:
πΈObjective and goals of PRIMA projects
πΈLevel of adherence and major determinants of Mediterranean diet in 5 countries: the DELICIOUS project
πΈCulinary kids: a cross-cultural co-design of snacks within the DELICIOUS project
πΈDevelopment of non-formal educational tools (digital games) to increase the awareness of the MD adherence benefits
πΈWeb and mobile applications for better adherence to the Mediterranean diet in schools and at home: the DELICIOUS project app
πΈFostering physical fitness in mediterranean youth
We also had the opportunity to count on the expertise of other PRIMA Program projects: SWITCHtoHEALTHY, PROmedLIFE and MEDIET4ALL with the contribution of Perla Degli Innocenti, Cinzia Franchini, Alice Rosi, Achraf Ammar and Johannes Gutenberg. They showed us their research on the Med-based diet, which are heavily linked to DELICIOUS.
πΈSWITCHtoHEALTHY has the aim of generating an overall change of approach to the modern problem of eating behaviours, by strengthening the role of families towards the promotion of the sustainable Mediterranean food model. The main goal is to generate an actual switch to healthier dietary models, that are more consistent with the Mediterranean Diet. Dr. Perla Degli Innocenti from University of Parma presented an overview of Mediterranean dietary pattern in 4 Mediterranean countries from the SWITCHtoHEALTHY project. Professor Alice Rosi, from the same university, presented the digital and educational tools to improve familiesβ Mediterranean Diet adherence that they have developed within this project.
πΈPROmedLIFE aims to increase adherence to the MD through a multi-actor approach by encouraging the adoption of a healthy eating lifestyle while decreasing the environmental and economic impact of food production and processing. It also aims to attain optimal food communication and education through training programs that target primary and (upper) secondary students as well as their families, from children to older adults. During the conference, Dr. Cinzia Franchini from the University of Parma made the presentation “Raising awareness of the Mediterranean Diet (and acceptability of healthy snacks) via nutrition and sensory education school-based program: an intervention study within the PROmedLIFE project”.
πΈMEDIET4ALL aims to support the transition from UPFs culture to modern and sustainable MEDIET through the implementation of best practices and innovative solutions enhancing the convenience, modernity, competitivity, and shelf life of MEDIET and the adherence to its lifestyle. Specifically, multicenter databases of MEDIETβs ingredients/food and their providers will be created to promote accessibility to MEDIET. Professors Achraf Ammar and Johannes Gutenberg from UniversitΓ€t Mainz presented their approach to fight obesity through digitally supported Healthy Lifestyle in the framework of their project.
It was a day full of learning and insightful contributions, with the opportunity to engage with projects that work in the same lines of DELICIOUS and towards the similar goals.
On Friday the 27th, DELICIOUS partners met again for a closed session on project advancements and next steps. DELICIOUS project will finish on March 2025 and the consortium is on the last months of work to finalise all activities.
