1. Introduction
metabolic and cardiovascular diseases
DISEASES
The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of dietary habits and physical activity intervention on lifestyle behavior as a prevention tool supported also by personalized motivational counseling. A two-arm randomized controlled trial was carried out. A sample of 18–22-year-old students was randomly assigned to a four-month intervention based on the Mediterranean diet and moderate physical activity program (N = 66) or to a control group (N = 63). The outcomes were adherence to the Mediterranean diet, physical activity level, and nutrients intake, assessed at enrollment (t0), end of intervention (t4, 4 months after the start), and end of follow-up (t8, 8 months after the start). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet increased from t0 to t4 and t8, more in the intervention (6.83, 9.85, and 9.12, respectively) than in the control group (6.73, 7.00, 7.69, respectively) (The primary prevention of chronic, non-communicable diseases has become a priority of public health policies in both high- and low-income countries [Most trials on lifestyle interventions have been performed in adults, especially in those at higher risk of developing metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. However, adolescents are a target population for health promotion interventions, because of the opportunity for acquiring positive lifestyle habits at an early age to be maintained in adulthood [This study, part of a large randomized trial study on semen quality of healthy young men in Italy (the FASt project) [