Multifactorial determinants of health status: insights from the MEDIET4ALL large-scale survey on eco-sociodemographic, psychological, and lifestyle (diet, physical activity, and sleep) factors.
Non-communicable diseases are a growing public health challenge, shaped not only by biological predispositions but also by geo-demographic, socioeconomic, psychological, and lifestyle factors. A comprehensive understanding of these determinants is essential for developing targeted public health strategies. This study aimed to examine the multifactorial determinants of individual health status by analyzing geo-demographic, socio-economic, behavioral, psychological, and lifestyle variables.
Data were collected from 4,010 participants (age: 37.2 ± 15.4 years; 59.5% female) across 10 Mediterranean and neighboring countries using the multinational MEDIET4ALL e-survey. Health status was categorized as healthy, at-risk, or with diseases. Multinomial logistic regression, Quade's Rank ANCOVA and series of multiple regression models were conducted.
Collectively, around 25% of respondents declared to be at-risk of or with known disease. BMI emerged as the strongest negative predictor of health status (β = -0.145), with both obesity and underweight significantly increasing the odds of being at risk (OR = 1.8 and 5.2, respectively) and having diseases (OR = 2.2 and 11.9, respectively). Other significant negative predictors included psychological distress (notably anxiety, β = -0.091), insomnia (β = -0.084), alcohol consumption (β = -0.053), and prolonged sitting time (β = -0.037). Conversely, life satisfaction was the strongest significant protective factor (β = 0.066), followed by higher education, better sleep quality, and adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and lifestyle (β = 0.034 to 0.050). Socio-economic disparities, including employment status (β = -0.045) and living environment (β = -0.031), also significantly influenced health outcomes with rural environment and employed individual showing lower odd ratios of being at-risk and/or having diseases (p < 0.001). Furthermore, individuals residing in Mediterranean regions, females, married or cohabiting individuals, and non-smokers exhibited significantly lower odds of being at-risk or having diseases (p < 0.05). While gender remained a significant predictor in the final refined comprehensive regression model (β = -0.049), marital status lost significance, suggesting that its protective effect may be mediated by psychological well-being and health-related behaviors.
These findings highlight the complex interplay of lifestyle, mental health, and socio-environmental factors in determining health outcomes, while emphasizing the urgent need for multi-level public health interventions, including policies promoting physical activity, healthy eating, mental well-being, and equitable healthcare access. Future research should employ longitudinal designs to establish causal relationships and guides preventive strategies.
Data were collected from 4,010 participants (age: 37.2 ± 15.4 years; 59.5% female) across 10 Mediterranean and neighboring countries using the multinational MEDIET4ALL e-survey. Health status was categorized as healthy, at-risk, or with diseases. Multinomial logistic regression, Quade's Rank ANCOVA and series of multiple regression models were conducted.
Collectively, around 25% of respondents declared to be at-risk of or with known disease. BMI emerged as the strongest negative predictor of health status (β = -0.145), with both obesity and underweight significantly increasing the odds of being at risk (OR = 1.8 and 5.2, respectively) and having diseases (OR = 2.2 and 11.9, respectively). Other significant negative predictors included psychological distress (notably anxiety, β = -0.091), insomnia (β = -0.084), alcohol consumption (β = -0.053), and prolonged sitting time (β = -0.037). Conversely, life satisfaction was the strongest significant protective factor (β = 0.066), followed by higher education, better sleep quality, and adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and lifestyle (β = 0.034 to 0.050). Socio-economic disparities, including employment status (β = -0.045) and living environment (β = -0.031), also significantly influenced health outcomes with rural environment and employed individual showing lower odd ratios of being at-risk and/or having diseases (p < 0.001). Furthermore, individuals residing in Mediterranean regions, females, married or cohabiting individuals, and non-smokers exhibited significantly lower odds of being at-risk or having diseases (p < 0.05). While gender remained a significant predictor in the final refined comprehensive regression model (β = -0.049), marital status lost significance, suggesting that its protective effect may be mediated by psychological well-being and health-related behaviors.
These findings highlight the complex interplay of lifestyle, mental health, and socio-environmental factors in determining health outcomes, while emphasizing the urgent need for multi-level public health interventions, including policies promoting physical activity, healthy eating, mental well-being, and equitable healthcare access. Future research should employ longitudinal designs to establish causal relationships and guides preventive strategies.
Authors
Ammar Ammar, Salem Salem, Boujelbane Boujelbane, Trabelsi Trabelsi, Bouaziz Bouaziz, Kerkeni Kerkeni, Masmoudi Masmoudi, Heydenreich Heydenreich, Schallhorn Schallhorn, Müller Müller, Uyar Uyar, Ghazzawi Ghazzawi, Amawi Amawi, Orhan Orhan, Grosso Grosso, Abdelkarim Abdelkarim, Driss Driss, El Abed El Abed, Zmijewski Zmijewski, Debeaufort Debeaufort, Benbettaieb Benbettaieb, Poulain Poulain, Reyes Reyes, Gamero Gamero, Cuenca-Ortolá Cuenca-Ortolá, Cilla Cilla, Francesca Francesca, Messina Messina, Viola Viola, Lorenzen Lorenzen, Filice Filice, Lahiani Lahiani, Khaldi Khaldi, Souissi Souissi, Boukhris Boukhris, Frias-Toral Frias-Toral, Jahrami Jahrami, Husain Husain, Mahdi Mahdi, Chtourou Chtourou, Schöllhorn Schöllhorn
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