MUNICIPALITY OF ATHENS
Tsiftis George, PaediatricianTsiftis George, Paediatrician Municipality of Athens Municipality of Athens Nursery Centers Nursery Centers
MEDITERANIAN DIET - BALANCED NUTRITION
FROM THEORY TO IMPLEMENTATION
• During 2008, our main activity was the
prevention both of diseases and pathogenic
attitudes.
• Overconsumption of calories ends to
obesity.
• Obesity is connected with arterial blood
hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia,
coronary disease and metabolic syndrome.
Obesity presupposes correct nutrition,
development of healthy nutrition attitudes.
Mediterranean nutrition constitutes the best
model for a healthy diet.
The development of healthy attitudes requires
patience, persistence, consistency and repetition
both on behalf of parents and teachers.
• Prevention is the best cure.
• Health maintenance and improvement is most
significant.
• Methodology and technique is required for the
child to develop healthy habits.
Health promotion is:
• One step ahead of prevention.
• Now a social issue rather than a personal
one.
Mrs Vicky Benetou, indicated:
There is convincing scientific evidence that Diet And Nutrition are important factors in the Maintenance and Promotion of good health (Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases: report of a joint WHO/FAO expert consultation, Geneva, 2002).
Throughout the entire life course. Begins in fetal life and continues into the old age (cumulative lifetime exposure)
Leads to short- and long-term consequences for health
Nutrition is a major modifiable environmental determinant affecting all population groups
Great importance for public health workers
Optimum nutrition determines health, growth and
development. First 2-3 years of life are the most crucial (“critical
window”) for normal physical, mental, social and emotional development. (Feeding and Nutrition of Infants and Young Children. Guidelines for the WHO European Region, with Emphasis on the Former Soviet Countries. WHO Regional Publications, European Series No.87. 2000)
Eating habits, lifestyle and behavior patterns are
developed during this period and may persist throughout
adulthood.
Thus, childhood nutrition has long-term implications for
preventing disease in adulthood as:
• Cardiovascular diseases • Obesity• Diabetes mellitus type II • Osteoporosis• Cancer
“The improvement of children’s health depends
on research; the provision of services require a
culture that constantly examines and criticises”
A. Aynsly–Green, Arch. Dis. Child. 1998
Main Preventive Medicine Programmes
A model diet based on the Mediterranean diet and traditional Greek cuisine.
Detection of iron deficiency: The use of new, sensitive indices led to the conclusion that 18.4% of the children were sideropenic
Vitamin D level detection: All children tested normal
Dental examination: 36.5 % of children with caries, leading to the creation of a children-oriented oral hygiene education programme
Annual visual acuity test for children >4 years: 2-3% suffers from refractor errors without being aware of it
Recording of children’s somatometric data, contribution to the creation of percentile tables for Greek children. Obesity propensity detection programme
Overweight and obese children identification: 13.6% overweight, 5% obese
Migratory wave mapping. Recording of needs/ habits
Use of a special test for the identification of children possible to manifest learning disabilities at school. The “School Awareness” programme proved that 28% of children required assistance
1. Providing medical advice on specific problems is both
useful and valuable, but it only lasts as long as the
problem does.
2. On the contrary, teaching people the art of protecting
and promoting health results in the duration required.
3. For children, a single practical example is worth a
thousand pieces of theoretical advice,
we started, in cooperation with the professor Mrs. Trichopoulou, preparing various diets based on the Mediterranean nutrition pyramid.
1st step: Preparation of 25 diets (breakfast + lunch) based on Mediterranean nutrition
and Greek traditional cuisine.
2nd step: Daily caloric needs have been calculated; however half of them have been
prescribed.
3rd step: food have been weighted unrefined and skinned and then, cooked. Thus,
eventual loss could be estimated and appropriate quantity (of each food) could be
calculated.
4th step: Thanks to P/C and special tables, we are able to calculate a) Calories (half of
daily needs), b) appropriate proportion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, c)
qualitative mix-up of fats (saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated) and
carbohydrates (polysaccharides) and d) needs in trace elements and natural fibers.
5th step: Finally, quantity of portion per food and per child has been calculated. Thus,
according to the number of children to be hosted, we calculated supplies and we cooked
specific quantities and recipes.
These are the steps we followed
These are some of the diets we have already prepared.
Hard work, information and training of all
involved parties (cookers, professors and
parents) is required, that’s why Seminars
are constantly organized.
Our meetings allow us to be
optimistic about the future,
underline the state’s interest and
sensitise all parties involved
Dr.William Harvey (a physiologist describing blood circulation system) is carrying out experiments. King Charles the 1st is watching along with the little princess. Canvas painted by Robert Hannah. Royal College of Physicians, London.
“The evolution of medicine through art”, Dr. Th. Dolatza, Grafida, Athens 1999
The Municipality of Athens, as well as
Prince Charles and Dr. Harvey, have
been really supportive to our
projects, and therefore we may be
more optimistic about the future!
Thank you
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