March 3, 2026Open Access

Mediterranean Diet Adherence, Body Mass Index, and Quality of Life Among Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Puntos clave

Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet is positively linked with improved quality of life.
Significant differences were noted in dietary scores between male and female students, indicating gender influence.
Structural equation modeling demonstrated strong associations, explaining 21% to 27% of variance in dietary and health measures.
Support for Mediterranean diet as a beneficial strategy for enhancing quality of life in the young adult population.

Resumen

Introduction. Young adulthood is a critical period for establishing dietary habits. This study examined associations among Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence, body mass index (BMI), and quality of life (QoL) in university students. Methods. A total of 729 students aged 18–30 years were assessed for MD adherence (MEDAS), QoL (SF-36), and anthropometrics. Associations were evaluated using regression analyses and structural equation modeling (SEM). Results. Among 729 university students (mean age 21.3 ± 2.1 years; 59.1% female), females had higher MEDAS scores than males (7.2 ± 2.0 vs. 6.5 ± 2.2; p < 0.001). Higher MEDAS scores were positively associated with SF-36 physical (B = 1.85) and mental health (B = 1.47), while higher BMI was inversely associated with both domains (physical: B = −0.95; mental: B = −0.78; all p < 0.001). SEM showed acceptable model fit and explained 21% of the variance in the MEDAS, 27% in physical health, and 23% in mental health. Conclusions. Greater MD adherence is associated with better QoL and lower BMI in young adults, supporting the potential value of MD-based dietary behaviors.

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