Researchers studied nearly 3,000 Italian adults to see how their eating habits compared to official healthy eating guidelines. They found that most people weren’t eating enough fruits, vegetables, and eggs, but were eating too many sweets and drinking too much alcohol. The study also discovered that people who exercise regularly tend to follow the guidelines better than those who don’t. These results show that many Italians have drifted away from the traditional Mediterranean diet, which is known to be very healthy.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How much food Italian adults actually eat compared to what official health guidelines recommend
  • Who participated: 2,974 Italian adults of various ages, education levels, and employment statuses who answered questions about their eating habits
  • Key finding: About 3 out of 4 Italians don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables, and more than half eat too many sweets and alcoholic drinks
  • What it means for you: If you’re Italian or follow a similar diet, you might want to check if you’re eating enough fruits and vegetables. The good news is that people who exercise regularly tend to eat healthier, suggesting that physical activity and good eating habits go hand-in-hand

The Research Details

This was a snapshot study where researchers asked nearly 3,000 Italian adults about what they eat and how often they eat it. They didn’t follow people over time or change anyone’s diet—they just collected information at one point in time and compared it to official Italian dietary guidelines. The researchers looked at how often people ate different foods (like daily, weekly, or rarely) and then checked whether these eating patterns matched what health experts recommend. They also looked at whether certain groups of people—like men versus women, younger versus older, or people with different jobs—followed the guidelines differently.

This type of study is useful because it shows us the real-world eating habits of a large group of people and helps identify which foods people are struggling with. By comparing actual eating patterns to official guidelines, researchers can see exactly where the biggest problems are and who needs the most help making healthier choices.

The study included a large number of people (nearly 3,000), which makes the results more reliable. However, because this is a snapshot study, we can’t be completely sure about cause-and-effect relationships. For example, we know that people who exercise eat better, but we don’t know if exercise causes better eating or if people who care about health do both. The study relied on people reporting their own eating habits, which can sometimes be inaccurate.

What the Results Show

The research found that most Italian adults are not following the official dietary guidelines. Specifically, about 75% of people don’t eat enough fruit, and about 79% don’t eat enough vegetables. More than half of the people studied don’t eat enough eggs. On the flip side, about 88% of people eat too many sweets and sugary foods, and about 54% drink too much alcohol. These numbers show a clear pattern: people are eating too much of the unhealthy stuff and not enough of the healthy stuff. The study also found that men, older adults, people with higher education and income, and those working full-time were less likely to follow the guidelines. Interestingly, people who don’t exercise much were also less likely to eat according to the guidelines.

The research showed that physical activity level is one of the strongest connections to healthy eating. People who exercise regularly were much more likely to follow the dietary guidelines for most foods. This suggests that people who care about their health tend to do multiple healthy things—exercise and eat well—rather than just one or the other. The study also found differences between men and women, with men being less likely to follow the guidelines overall.

This research adds to growing evidence that Italians are moving away from the traditional Mediterranean diet, which has been studied for decades and is considered one of the healthiest eating patterns in the world. Previous research has shown this trend, and this new study confirms it’s still happening. The findings fit with what other countries are experiencing—as modern life gets busier and more convenient foods become available, people tend to eat less healthy.

This study has some important limitations to keep in mind. First, it only looked at Italian adults, so the results might not apply to other countries or cultures. Second, people reported their own eating habits, which means some might have forgotten what they ate or reported what they think they should eat rather than what they actually eat. Third, because this is a snapshot study, we can’t prove that one thing causes another—we can only see that certain things go together. Finally, the study doesn’t tell us why people aren’t following the guidelines, which would be helpful for creating solutions.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, health experts should focus on helping Italians eat more fruits and vegetables, reduce sweets, and limit alcohol. The evidence suggests that promoting physical activity alongside dietary advice might be especially effective, since the two seem to go together. These recommendations have moderate confidence because the study is large and well-designed, but more research is needed to understand the best ways to help people change their eating habits.

This research is most relevant to Italian adults and people who follow a similar Mediterranean-style diet. It’s especially important for people who don’t exercise much, since they seem to struggle most with following healthy eating guidelines. Healthcare providers, nutritionists, and public health officials should pay attention to these findings when creating programs to help people eat healthier. However, if you already eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and exercise regularly, this research mainly confirms that you’re on the right track.

If you decide to eat more fruits and vegetables based on this research, you might notice some benefits within a few weeks, like having more energy or feeling fuller longer. However, bigger health benefits like improved heart health or weight loss typically take several months of consistent healthy eating to become noticeable.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily servings of fruits and vegetables separately, aiming to log at least 3-5 servings per day. Use the app to set reminders for meals and snacks that include produce.
  • Start by adding one extra fruit or vegetable to each meal this week. For example, add berries to breakfast, extra veggies to lunch, and a side salad to dinner. Use the app to log these additions and celebrate small wins.
  • Weekly review of fruit and vegetable intake compared to guideline recommendations. Track which meals are easiest to add produce to, and identify barriers (like cost or availability) that the app can help you problem-solve over time.

This research describes eating patterns in Italian adults and how they compare to official guidelines. It does not provide personalized medical or nutritional advice. If you have specific health concerns or dietary needs, please consult with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet. This study shows associations between behaviors and guideline adherence but does not prove that one causes the other. Individual results may vary based on personal health status, medications, and other factors.