WORKPLACE stress and unrealistic goals were associated with Mediterranean diet non-adherence among hospital staff surveyed recently.
Why Mediterranean Diet Non-Adherence Persists at Work
Healthy eating can be difficult in hospital settings where shift work, time pressure, and stress shape daily routines. In this cross-sectional study, researchers examined why adherence to the Mediterranean diet remained suboptimal among healthcare workers who had enrolled in, then discontinued, a Mediterranean diet program.
The team surveyed 38 overweight or obese employees at the Policlinico Umberto I Teaching Hospital and Sapienza University of Rome. Participants completed an ad hoc semi-structured questionnaire covering dietary management, stress and motivation, professional support, and social context, and responses were analyzed for variables associated with Mediterranean diet non-adherence.
Mediterranean Diet Non-Adherence Correlates With Stress and Lifestyle
Mediterranean diet non-adherence was significantly correlated with work-related stress (p<0.013). Setting unrealistic goals was also associated with non-adherence (p<0.014), as was describing a hectic lifestyle (p<0.035). Social factors appeared to matter as well: social isolation during lunch breaks was linked to reduced motivation (p<0.049) to maintain the Mediterranean diet.
Notably, dietary rigidity was not perceived as a barrier by participants. This finding suggests that, for this group, the challenge was less about the diet’s structure and more about the conditions surrounding food choices at work.
What the Findings Suggest for Workplace Health Promotion
The authors concluded that determinants of Mediterranean diet non-adherence in healthcare workers were mainly psychosocial and organizational rather than inherent to the diet itself. They emphasized the role that integrated strategies could play, pairing nutritional education with stress management and a more supportive workplace environment to strengthen dietary adherence and occupational well-being.
Because the study was cross-sectional and involved a small sample of workers who had already stopped the program, the findings should be interpreted as associations rather than evidence of causation. Even so, the results underline how work patterns and social context can shape everyday nutrition among healthcare staff.
Reference: Colaprico C et al. Determinants of Non-Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet Among Healthcare Workers: A cross-sectional study. Clin Ter. 2026;177(1):139-145.
