CONCLUSIONS Pasta in the context of low-GI dietary patterns does not adversely affect adiposity and even reduces body weight and BMI compared with higher-GI dietary patterns .
OBJECTIVE Carbohydrate staples such as pasta have been implicated in the obesity epidemic .
It is unclear whether pasta contributes to weight gain or like other low-glycaemic index ( GI ) foods contributes to weight loss .
We synthesis ed the evidence of the effect of pasta on measures of adiposity .
Decline of the Mediterranean diet at a time of economic crisis. Results from the Moli-sani study.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Adherence to Mediterranean diet ( MD ) is reportedly declining in the last decades . We aim ed to investigate the adherence to MD over the period 2005 - 2010 and exploring the possible role of the global economic crisis in accounting for the changing in the dietary habits in Italy . METHODS AND RESULTS Cross-sectional analysis in a population -based cohort study which r and omly recruited 21,001 southern Italian citizens enrolled within the Moli-sani study .  Food intake was determined by the Italian EPIC food frequency question naire .  Adherence to MD  was appraised by the  Italian Mediterranean Index ( IMI ) . A wealth score was derived to evaluate the economic position and used together with other socioeconomic indicators . Highest prevalence of adherence to MD  was observed during the years 2005 - 2006 ( 31.3 % ) while the prevalence dramatically fell down in the years 2007 - 2010 ( 18.3 % ; P<0.0001 ) . The decrease was stronger in the elderly , less affluent groups , and among those living in urban areas . Accordingly , we observed that in 2007 - 2010 socioeconomic indicators were strongly associated with higher adherence to MD  , whereas no association was detected in the years before the economic crisis began ; both wealth score and education were major determinants of high adherence to MD  with 31 % ( 95%CI : 18 - 46 % ) higher adherence to this pattern within the wealthier group compared to the less affluent category . CONCLUSION Adherence to MD  has considerably decreased over the last few years . In 2007 - 2010 socioeconomic indicators have become major determinants of adherence to MD , a fact likely linked to the economic downturn
CONCLUSIONS Pasta in the context of low-GI dietary patterns does not adversely affect adiposity and even reduces body weight and BMI compared with higher-GI dietary patterns .
OBJECTIVE Carbohydrate staples such as pasta have been implicated in the obesity epidemic .
It is unclear whether pasta contributes to weight gain or like other low-glycaemic index ( GI ) foods contributes to weight loss .
We synthesis ed the evidence of the effect of pasta on measures of adiposity .