Food consumption and comparison with Italian Dietary Guidelines: results from ARIANNA cross-sectional survey

Recent studies highlight an increasing deviation from the Mediterranean Diet and Italian Dietary Guidelines (IDGs) among Italians. This study assessed food consumption in 2,974 Italian adults from the ARIANNA cross-sectional survey, comparing it with Mediterranean Diet Serving Score and IDGs recommendations. Associations between sample characteristics and consumption frequencies, also considered as according/not according to IDGs, were assessed using chi-square test and univariable ordered logistic regression models. Over half of participants failed to meet IDGs for fruit (74.84%), vegetables (78.80%), and eggs (54.50%), while exceeding that for sweets (87.67%) and alcoholic beverages (54.10%). Male sex, older age, higher education, full-time employment, higher income, and lower physical activity were linked to lower compliance. Higher physical activity levels correlated positively with adherence to most IDGs. Findings emphasize the need for further studies to target appropriate intervention strategies at population level and for specific foods, support IDGs refinement, and facilitate participation in international comparisons.