IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i5p1962-d1599226.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessing Gender and Age Differences in the Adoption of Sustainable Diets: Insights from an Intervention of the Mediterranean Diet

Author

Listed:
  • Mauro Lombardo

    (Department for the Promotion of Human Science and Quality of Life, San Raffaele Open University, Via di Val Cannuta, 247, 00166 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

Introduction: Sustainable nutrition is integral to environmental health and conservation. Gender and age differences influence dietary patterns, but their impact on the adoption of sustainable diets remains unclear. This study investigates the effects of a Mediterranean diet intervention on diet sustainability, focusing on gender and age differences. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1666 participants (58.2% women) aged 18–75 years. Dietary preferences were assessed through food diaries and sustainability indices before and after the intervention. Participants followed a low-calorie Mediterranean diet for two months, with food diaries tracking their weekly consumption. Changes in sustainable and non-sustainable food consumption were analysed using paired t -tests and stratified by gender and age groups. Results: Men consumed significantly more meat and processed meat ( p < 0.001), while women preferred low-fat yoghurt and whole grains ( p < 0.01). Despite an increase in legume consumption (3.2%, p < 0.001), the overall sustainability index decreased due to a compensatory rise in meat consumption among men ( p < 0.001), particularly in younger (<30) and older (>50) participants. Gender-related differences were observed, with female participants reporting a higher intake of foods classified as sustainable. However, significant cultural and palatability barriers limited the uptake of some sustainable foods such as tofu. Discussion: The intervention highlighted the challenges in promoting sustainable eating habits. Gender-targeted and age-specific strategies are critical to overcome barriers and support dietary improvements. Future interventions should incorporate cultural preferences and provide long-term support to achieve significant changes in behaviour. Conclusions: The Mediterranean diet intervention, conducted within an Italian cohort, highlighted both opportunities and challenges in promoting sustainable dietary transitions. Tailor-made approaches are essential to meet the different needs of various demographic groups. However, the effectiveness of nutrition programmes focusing on sustainability may depend on local food availability, cultural acceptance and dietary traditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Mauro Lombardo, 2025. "Assessing Gender and Age Differences in the Adoption of Sustainable Diets: Insights from an Intervention of the Mediterranean Diet," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:1962-:d:1599226
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/1962/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/1962/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Klaudia Modlinska & Dominika Adamczyk & Dominika Maison & Wojciech Pisula, 2020. "Gender Differences in Attitudes to Vegans/Vegetarians and Their Food Preferences, and Their Implications for Promoting Sustainable Dietary Patterns–A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-17, August.
    2. Debora Scarpato & Gennaro Civero & Mariarosaria Simeone, 2023. "Do Consumers Adhere to a Sustainable Mediterranean Food Pattern? An Analysis of Southern Italian Consumer Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-12, September.
    3. Giuliana Vinci & Lucia Maddaloni & Sabrina Antonia Prencipe & Marco Ruggeri & Maria Vittoria Di Loreto, 2022. "A Comparison of the Mediterranean Diet and Current Food Patterns in Italy: A Life Cycle Thinking Approach for a Sustainable Consumption," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Takumi Kato, 2024. "Effect of north, south, east, west on the attractiveness of products and services: extension of country of origin to cardinal directions," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Gian-Andrea Egeler & Priska Baur, 2022. "Menu Choice and Meat-Eating Habits: Results of a Field Experiment in Two University Canteens," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-13, March.
    3. Chi-Horng Liao, 2022. "Applying the DEMATEL Method to Evaluate Social Media Criteria in Promoting Sustainable Health Behavior—A Case Study of Vegetarian Diet Promotion by a Non-Profit Organization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-18, December.
    4. Chloe Crawshaw & Jared Piazza, 2023. "Livestock Farmers’ Attitudes towards Alternative Proteins," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-18, June.
    5. David Kilian & Ulrich Hamm, 2021. "Perceptions of Vegan Food among Organic Food Consumers Following Different Diets," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-17, August.
    6. Viktoria Mannheim & Judit Lovasné Avató, 2023. "Life-Cycle Assessments of Meat-Free and Meat-Containing Diets by Integrating Sustainability and Lean: Meat-Free Dishes Are Sustainable," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-24, August.
    7. Johannes Simons & Carl Vierboom & Jeanette Klink-Lehmann & Ingo Härlen & Monika Hartmann, 2021. "Vegetarianism/Veganism: A Way to Feel Good," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, March.
    8. Giuliana Vinci & Sabrina Antonia Prencipe & Federica Armeli & Rita Businaro, 2023. "A Multimethodological Approach for the Valorization of “Senatore Cappelli” Wheat Milling By-Products as a Source of Bioactive Compounds and Nutraceutical Activity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-22, March.
    9. repec:ehu:cuader:59433 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Osorio, Pilar & Tobarra, María-Ángeles & Tomás, Manuel, 2024. "Are there gender differences in household carbon footprints? Evidence from Spain," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:1962-:d:1599226. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.